Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre - Voronezhenergo division, in the framework of preparation for the fire hazardous period, held exercises to eliminate complex technological irregularities in electric grids in the conditions of high ambient temperatures. In addition to employees of the branch, specialists of the General Directorate of the EMERCOM in the Voronezh Region, the Voronezh Regional Dispatch Office (Transmission Control Centre), representatives of the Department of Housing and Utilities of the Voronezh region, and energy sales companies operating in the region were involved in the event. The exercises were supervised by Vyacheslav Antonov, First Deputy Director - Chief Engineer of IDGC of Centre - Voronezhenergo division.
Under the scenario of the exercises, in the conditions of unfavourable meteorological conditions (high ambient temperature, dry weather, strong wind) near Voronezh, a forest fire broke out, which resulted in damage to a 110 kV transmission line. As a result, there were consumers in suburbs of the regional centre without electricity, as well as in Novousmansky and Kashirsky districts of the Voronezh region.
A first responding crew of Voronezhenergo, having arrived at the site and having discovered the fire, informed the operator about this, who in turn immediately contacted the regional department of the EMERCOM. A fire crew was sent to the scene of the fire. At this time, the power engineers carried out all necessary switching operations at the substations, providing power to consumers with stand-by schemes, as well as using backup power supply sources.
Upon the arrival of the fire crew, the staff of the line crew of the Voronezh branch of IDGC of Centre accompanied them to the place of conditional fire, ensuring all conditions for safe operation. The power engineers in a simulated manner tested the absence of voltage on the line, and further instructed the fire fighters on the peculiarities of extinguishing fires in security zones of power lines. After extinguishing the conditional fire, Voronezhenergo’s specialists restored the faulty sections of the high-voltage lines.
"The crews of power engineers carried out all the work within the time-limits set by the authorities, restoring power supply to consumers as quickly as possible. The exercises once again demonstrated the high level of training of all participants to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters, in particular - landscape fires," stressed Vyacheslav Antonov, commenting on the results of the exercises.
