ROW expansion is necessary for reliable electricity supply

In January-November 2011 IDGC of Centre — Yarenergo division completed the expansion of 403.95 hectares of ROWs, which amounted to 101.2% of the annual plan. Actions to expand ROWs are performed within the investment program of the division for 2011.

Under the program of repair and maintenance of power lines, aimed at trouble-free passage of the autumn-winter period, for 11 months of this year specialists of the division have performed ROW clearing of 1332.49 ha, as well as cut down 6 965 bushes and free-standing trees.

The work on ROW expansion and clearing is performed by skilled staff, fully equipped with personal protective equipment and tools. In addition to traditional saws and brush cutters Yarenergo uses modern devices for chopping wood and bushes at the root — mulchers. To clear ROWs with their full utilization of forest residues into chips a special mulching tractor is used.

ROW clearing and expansion, cutting down of free-standing trees is necessary to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers. This is especially true in the autumn-winter period, when falling trees and branches onto wires during snow storms and “ice” rain is the main cause of power outages.

“Trees that grow too close to HV power lines are also within the city boundaries. On the territory of Yaroslavl there are about 350 km of overhead power lines with voltage of 35-110 kV along the right-of-way. Violation of their work may cause outages of social significant facilities, such as hospitals, schools, kindergartens, boilers, refineries, pumping stations, power supply interruption of which is critical”, — noted Deputy Chief Engineer — Head of production assets management center of IDGC of Centre -Yarenergo division Yury Loganov.