Hotline of power engineering specialists:
On 20th of April in 2011 in IDC Holding, OJSC production meeting was held with the general directors and technical managers of IDGC / DGC, the passing of the autumn-winter peak load of 2010/2011 was the main theme of the meeting.
Opening the meeting, Director General of IDGC Holding Nikolay Shvets said that past 2010 and ended after it autumn-winter period became a test of the company’s strength. Faced with unprecedented natural anomalies, power engineers of distribution grid complex gained valuable experience in disaster relief. Based on the findings key priorities for further work to improve the reliability of electricity supply to consumers were identified. Considerable volume of works to implement the repair and investment programs, as well as on the transition of IDGC / DGC branches to long-term regulation of tariffs by the return on investment method (RAB-regulation) were done, which laid the basis for the inflow of investments into the industry.
Reporting on the outcome of the autumn-winter period, Deputy Director General — Technical Director of IDGC Holding, OJSC Boris Mekhanoshin noted a significant increase in the level of reliability of the power grid companies’ data on technological disturbances. In comparison with the autumn-winter period of 2009/2010, number of fixed technological disturbances increased in most operating companies, but undersupply of energy (an indirect indicator of the actual accident rate), except for regions affected by “freezing rain”, remained at the level of the previous autumn-winter period.
Most of the technological disturbances (65%) were connected with damage of overhead lines (OL). This trend affected particularly sensitive on the power grid companies and consumers during “freezing rains” in December in Central Russia.
As it was emphasized by Boris Mekhanoshin, eliminating of the abnormal weather events’ effects in the Ul’yanovsk and Samara regions, which in early December 2010 the first met with “freezing rain”, has become an invaluable experience for IDGC Holding: just then the need for the creation of mobile Emergency Response and Restoration Teams’ reserve for rapid movement to areas affected by debauchery of the environment was realized. According to the decision of Director General of IDGC Holding, OJSC Nicholay Shvets 8 Emergency Response and Restoration Teams of JSC “MOESK” were moved by plane to Samara region. 7 other teams from JSC “Moskabel’remont” were sent to restore electricity in the Ul’yanovsk region. During the liquidation of the consequences of “freezing rain” 86 teams from other operating companies of IDGC Holding, 22 teams of UES FGC and 138 teams of contractors promptly arrived to Moscow region in order to help JSC “MOESK”. As a result, the total number of employees, simultaneously engaged in Emergency Response and Restoration Operations, increased from 2300 to 3300 persons. Currently, mobile reserve of IDGC Holding, formed in all operating companies, include 452 teams of total number of 2.702 persons.
The key challenge of IDGC Holding is not only preparation for possible technological disturbances elimination, but also work on their prevention. The main reason for disconnection of electricity supply in the regions affected by “freezing rain” was the fall of the trees on power transmission lines under the weight of ice: during the Emergency Response and Restoration Operations in Moscow region more than 300 thousand trees were removed from overhead lines. The mass falling of trees on wires occurred because of narrowed trails along power transmission lines. Imperfection of the legislation on forest management also played a role. In particular, the work on trails was limited by Rules for Use of forest lands, defined by the order of the RF Ministry of Agriculture #543 of 2009, which contradict regulations of Rules on design of power electric installations-7.
Federal Agency for Forestry Affairs, IDGC Holding, OJSC and UES FGC, JSC have created a working group that formulated the proposals to amend the legislation. A draft of the Rules for Use of forests for construction, reconstruction, operation of linear facilities was developed. Document was sent for approval to the subject ministries of the Government of the Russian Federation.
The renewal of off-highway machinery park, equipping of strategic customers with back-up power sources, better interaction with the regional headquarters for the security of electricity supply (holding joint exercises with the participation of Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia) were called among the necessary actions identified by the analysis of the passing of the autumn-winter period of 2010/2011.
In order to improve system reliability of distribution grid complex the introduction of automated control system of distributed resources for Emergency Response and Restoration Operations, and system for temperature monitoring of overhead lines and changing of
Director General of JSC “MOESK” Andrey Konovalov noted in his speech the unprecedented experience of information work in extreme situations: in addition to an existing call center in each district of electric networks of JSC “MOESK” temporary information centers were opened, which took over the main stream of consumers’ phone calls. According to the Director General of JSC “MOESK”, eliminating of the consequences of “freezing rain” has already cost out to the company at RUR 702 million. About RUR 317 million in the current year were provided for clearing of trails and it is planned to enter about RUR 300 million in the investment program with the adjustment of the business plan. Thus, the overall damage from debauchery of the environment in the winter of 2010/2011 is estimated at RUR
Director General of IDGC of Center and Volga Region, JSC Evgeny Ushakov drew attention to the need for technical and technological equipping of operational situation centers of IDGC, as well as the proposed mechanism for provision of small settlements with reserve power sources.
Questions about consolidation of power grid facilities, asset management, execution of investment programs and implementation of IDGC / DGC services in 2010, and accomplishment of unified reputational policy in IDGC Holding also were raised at the meeting.