Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre – Kurskenergo division has begun preparing for operation through spring floods.
The preparatory activities are supervised by the set up in the branch Central flood commission, headed by First Deputy Director - Chief Engineer of Kurskenergo Vyacheslav Istomin. A plan of measures to ensure reliable operation of power grid facilities in the flood period has been prepared, deadlines and those responsible for enforcing them have been designated. Heads of the technical unit of the branch have a list of facilities being in a high-risk zone in the period of possible flooding: it includes 44 power lines and 6 substations.
According to the plan of preparation for the flood Kurskenergo’s staff conducts inspections of overhead power lines crossing rivers. In the floodplains at poles, subject to flooding and erosion, sticks to measure the maximum water level are renewed or additionally installed, the state of embankment foundations of poles, the protection of grounds of the ice flow is being checked.
Employees of the branch conduct clearing snow from premises of substations to eliminate threat of flooding (minor flooding) of equipment of indoor switchgear, substation control houses and communications, carriageways and territories of outdoor switchgear yards to allow entrance of vehicles to equipment, buildings, facilities, reservoirs and fire hydrants.
To monitor the flood situation, getting the actual and forecast data on the situation on rivers and urgent awareness about the threat of emergency situations, Kurskenergo has set cooperation with the territorial authorities of Roshydromet, the General Directorate of EMERCOM of Russia in the Kursk Region and local administrations. To ensure stable operation of the power system during the flood emergency reserve is being formed of materials and equipment, boats, mobile pumps, machines and mechanisms, the main standby power supply sources, primary and backup channels of communication and notification.
Timetables for duty of managers, specialists and emergency crews have been established. To promptly respond to possible cases of flooding Kurskenergo has formed 10 mobile crews composed of 76 people and 21 vehicles. In the reserve there are other 30 first responding and restoration crews, one in each Distribution Zone. The crews have been provided with schemes of entrance to overhead line sections, located in a risk zone, indicating the characteristics of the water and other possible obstacles and ways to overcome them, and detours. "Timely implementation of organizational and technical measures to prepare for the flood, will serve as the key to ensure reliable, trouble-free operation of power grid facilities during the spring flood," stresses First Deputy Director - Chief Engineer of Kurskenergo Vyacheslav Istomin.