Hotline of power engineering specialists:
Since 21 April 2016 in the Smolensk region command and staff exercises have been held on the theme: "Actions of management bodies, forces and means of the object-level of the functional subsystem of Emergency Response of the branch "Smolenskenergo" in the aftermath of natural emergencies at power facilities caused by spring floods and wildfires" with participation of IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division.
The main objectives of the event were increased readiness to address problems in the aftermath of emergency situations of natural character at power facilities caused by spring floods and wildfires; improvement of methods of joint work of the Staff of the security of electricity supply in the Smolensk region, and Smolenskenergo’s crisis management centre in taking decisions on liquidation of consequences of emergency situations; reality check of the action plan for prevention and liquidation of emergency situations and working out interaction at emergency response with a threat of a power failure.
The exercises involved: Smolenskenergo’s crisis management centre, chiefs of Distribution Zones, heads of structural departments, operators on duty of the Operation and Technology Service of the Grid Control Centre network and operational and technological groups of Distribution Zones, specialists of the department of mobilization preparation and civil defense and temporary information centres.
During the exercises they worked out interaction with the branch of OJSC "SO UES" Smolensk Regional Transmission Centre, General Directorate of EMERCOM of Russia in the Smolensk region, Administrations and unified duty and dispatch services of municipalities of the Smolensk region, the contact centre of IDGC of Centre, contractors, with which framework contracts were concluded to eliminate complex technological failures.
The command-staff exercises were carried out in two stages. In the first stage for 4 hours they worked out actions of management bodies, forces and means of Smolenskenergo at threat for natural emergencies at power facilities caused by spring floods. They carried out the notification and collection of the participants, communicating a storm warning about the high probability of emergency situations on the territory of the Smolensk region, clarification of forces and means to eliminate major technological violations, organized the management staff on duty according to the schedule. As part of the exercises they put on high alert mode and organized interaction and information exchange with of OJSC "SO UES" Smolensk Regional Transmission Centre, EMERCOM, and unified duty and dispatch services of municipalities.
In the second phase they worked out actions of Smolenskenergo when performing activities of a special mode of operation due to wildfires. The stage duration was 6 hours, during which they practiced introducing the special mode of operation, organizing the work of Smolenskenergo’s crisis management centre to eliminate complex technological breakdowns at electric grid facilities of the branch. They also in the second stage carried out an emergency response exercise on the site of Smolensk City Distribution Zone.
They checked readiness and equipment of a first responding and restoration crew of Smolensk City Distribution Zone with materials, protective gear, special vehicles, availability and serviceability of communication means.
They checked the possibility of deployment and organization of work of temporary information centres in Smolensk City Distribution Zone, as well as implemented measures to bring backup power supply sources into operation.
"The plan of the command-staff exercises was fully implemented," stressed First Deputy Chief Engineer of Smolenskenergo Yury Krivtsov. "The participants gained practical experience in the management of entities in preparing and carrying out the tasks in the aftermath of emergency situations caused by spring floods and wildfires."