14 September 2018, IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division conducted exercises at facilities to eliminate mass outages of power grid facilities caused by impact of hazardous meteorological phenomena on the topic "Interaction in the elimination of failures in the power grid complex with interruption of power supply to consumers in conditions of cold outdoor temperatures".
From IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division the exercises were supervised by First Deputy Director - Chief Engineer of the branch Vitaliy V. Mordykin.
The exercises were conducted with the purpose of working out actions of the branch’s personnel in making prompt decisions and activities in a difficult situation in the context of massive violations of power supply to consumers. In addition, they practiced the organization of staff activities, actions for entering a high alert mode and a special operating mode, personnel skills independently and in the team to isolate faults, ensure their elimination, monitor the effectiveness and expediency of distribution of crews and much more.
During the exercises, the interaction between all participants was also worked out: IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division, the Regional Headquarters, electric grid utilities, territorial executive bodies and local self-governments, subdivisions of the EMERCOM, municipal organizations and consumers in the interests of prevention and liquidation mass outages of power grid facilities.
According to the scenario plan, 91 employees of Smolenskenergo were involved in the event with 18 vehicles, including specialized ones, as well as forces and means of other participants in the exercises.
The exercises were conducted in 5 stages. At the first one, headquarters were gathered, and a high alert mode was introduced. The second stage was devoted to the development of cooperation in the liquidation of failures in the power grid complex with violation of electric power supply to consumers in conditions of low ambient temperatures. At the third stage, the work of Smolenskenergo was organized in the conditions of the emergence of mass technological violations in the operation of the power grid complex and a special operating mode was introduced.
During the penultimate stage, emergency recovery operations were organized to restore electricity to de-energized consumers using backup sources of electricity. At the final stage, the skills of transferring the branch from the special operating mode to the high alert mode with subsequent cancellation of the high alert mode were worked out and the results were summed up.
According to the management of Smolenskenergo, the exercises were successful. All the planned activities were carried out promptly and in full thanks to the well-coordinated work of the participants.
Carrying out similar exercises to eliminate emergency situations with the threat of a power failure in conditions of low ambient temperatures is one of the mandatory conditions for obtaining a certificate of readiness for the autumn-winter period.