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This winter is constantly checking the strength of the power grid in the Yaroslavl region. Yaroslavl power engineers faced the most severe test in December last year, when, due to changes in temperature there was the so-called «freezing rain». At the beginning of February 2013 in the region there was a snow storm. Thanks to the coordinated work of operators and operational staff of Yarenergo they managed efficiently to power up social facilities and fully restore electricity in the affected areas during the day. In both cases, the power engineers worked in close collaboration with the Government of the region, the Emergencies Ministry and meteorological services. From 14 to 17 March a Mediterranean cyclone went through the region with wind gusts and heavy snowfall. Despite the natural disasters, there were no interruptions in power supply.
Throughout the autumn and winter period six mobile crews of Yarenergo are in a constant state of readiness. They have 31 people, 31 vehicles and two light towers. Mobile crews are based in Rostovsky, Tutaevsky, Rybinsky and Yaroslavlsky districts of the region and as soon as possible can come to the accident site and begin to eliminate it. In total, the branch’s operations staff is 739 people. 118 mobile crews have all the necessary equipment at their disposal: cranes, aerial platforms, drilling rigs, electrical laboratories, crew vehicles and snowmobiles. Emergency supplies are fully stocked. Fifty diesel generators are distributed to all Distribution Zones. This is enough to provide power to social facilities with standby power supply sources. In addition, two crews of contractors may be involved in restoration efforts, consisting of ten people and three special vehicles.
Successful operation through the peak load became possible with much preparation. Key factors for the stable operation of equipment in the autumn-winter period was the implementation of the investment program, planned and major repairs of the equipment.
In 2012, Yarenergo invested 600 million rubles in modernization of power grid facilities. In particular, the power engineers reconstructed key substations that substantially affect the reliability of the region: the 110/10 kV «Bragino» and 35/6 kV «Coastal», extended the overhead line of 35 kV «Shashkovo-Left bank» and the substation 110/35/10 «Nila» with replacement of transformers of higher capacity. 133 million rubles were allocated for repairs in the past year. 605 km of
Serious risk factor of emergency situations is trees that are located too close to wires. To minimize this effect about 800 hectares of ROWs along power lines were cleared and more than 400 hectares of ROWs were expanded.
As part of the target program to improve reliability fire dangerous oil circuit breakers in the substations «Rostov», «Konstantinovo», «Pavlov», «East» and «South» were replaced, and at 16 substations fiber arc protection was installed. «The final results will be summed up in April and May, but now we can say that the most difficult part is behind. We were well prepared for: we increased the volume of the maintenance campaign, expanded ROWs, operational personnel had the necessary training. Under conditions where the power grid experiences peak loads, it is impossible to completely avoid interruptions. In this case, we were able to reduce the interruption rate at facilities of the branch and greatly decrease the time to eliminate technological disturbances. Let’s hope that the weather will not throw us surprises and Yarenergo will complete the autumn and winter period in normal operation mode,» stressed Deputy General Director of IDGC of Centre — Yarenergo division director Igor Solonikov.