Hotline of power engineering specialists:
14 September 2017, at facilities of IDGC of Centre – Smolenskenergo division a grid-wide emergency response training was held to deal with liquidation of emergencies, major technological violations related to the threat of power failure in conditions of low ambient air temperatures with participation of energy companies that provide electricity to the Smolensk region.
The purpose of the exercise was to test the interaction of the dispatching personnel of the Smolensk Regional Dispatch Office of SO UES, the operational staff of the branch of FGC UES "Novgorod enterprise MES", IDGC of Centre – Smolenskenergo division, the personnel of the EMERCOM of Russia in the Smolensk region, checking readiness for actions to prevent and eliminate emergencies.
According to the scenario, the emergency situation occurred as a result of unfavourable meteorological events: wet snow, temperature drop with zero crossing, snow sticking to overhead lines and equipment icing, which led to technological disruption with disconnection of 35 and 110 kV substations. A total of 6 110 kV substations, 14 35 kV substations, 952 10 kV transformer stations, 35,200 inhabitants, 375 settlements of Pochinkovsky, Ershichsky, Shumyachsky, Khislavichsky, Monastyrschinsky districts of the Smolensk region, 55 schools and kindergartens, 56 boiler houses, 207 water supply facilities and water disposal facilities, 7 facilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service, and 14 medical institutions were de-energized.
At the first stage of the exercise Smolenskenergo set up a crisis management centre, a high alert mode was introduced and temporary information centres were deployed to work with residents of the affected district. During the exercise, the members of the centre, having a limited amount of time, assessed the current situation, promptly discussed the necessary organizational measures and developed joint technical solutions to eliminate the consequences of possible emergencies.
At the second stage the grid-wide training was conducted and issues of the branch transition and operation in the Special mode of operation were worked out. In the course of conducting the grid-wide training, the issues of restoration of power supply to de-energized consumers with reserve circuits through 35 and 10 kV grids, recovery of damaged power lines, direction and organization of work of first responding and restoration crews were worked out.
The third stage of the exercise was held in Khislavichesky district, where the participants solved practical issues of cooperation in the restoration of electricity supply, carried out first responding and restoration work to clear a roadway from fallen trees. The power engineers together with the representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Smolensk region and the executive authorities of Khislavichesky district determined the priority locations for connecting mobile backup sources of electricity, carried out practical measures for their transportation and connection.
According to Vitaly Mordykin, Acting First Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of IDGC of Centre – Smolenskenergo division, the exercises were successful. All the planned events were carried out promptly and in full thanks to the well-coordinated work of all participants in the training.
Carrying out exercises to eliminate emergency situations with the threat of a power failure in conditions of low ambient air temperatures is one of the mandatory conditions for signing a certificate of readiness for the autumn-winter operation period of 2017-2018.
