Search

Preparing for Peak Demand

CL&P is constantly looking for ways to lessen the chances of a major power outage. At one time or another, we’ve all experienced power outages. Usually they take us by surprise when we’re cooking dinner or watching television, when we’re giving the kids a bath or just listening to the stereo. But one thing’s for sure - outages are almost always inconvenient.

Unfortunately, power outages are inevitable and they happen for a number or reasons. Weather, nature, motor vehicle accidents, cranes and excavation machinery, animals, equipment failures, vandalism and even routine planned maintenance can all contribute to a power outage in some way or another. What CL&P works to achieve is preventing the severity of such outages.

While we can’t control the weather, we do try to work with it. In fact, the moment we receive notification of a major storm, we put our detailed “System Emergency Plan” into action. During this period, our staff responds like other emergency personnel such as fire and police officials. Helping to restore power, whatever the cause, is a top priority.

Preparations

One of CL&P’s top priorities each year is preparing the system to withstand the strain caused by the peak demand of summer.

Here are some of the steps CL&P takes each year to ensure the reliability of the system, during the dog days of summer:

  • Building new substations when necessary;
  • Installing additional transformers;
  • Performing inspections and follow-up maintenance on all distribution substations in areas where heavy customer demand is expected;
  • Verifying the integrity and efficiency of cooling equipment at all major substations to ensure the equipment will be appropriately cooled to avoid equipment failures from overheating while carrying peak summer loads;
  • Conducting infrared surveys of the transmission lines and all of CL&P’s 235 substations. These surveys test and verify the integrity of the connections on major electrical delivery systems;
  • Completing foot patrols of the transmission lines to inspect electrical equipment and structures;
  • Installing new distribution equipment and repairing existing equipment to optimize power delivery systems;
  • Working with ISO New England and within the provisions of Connecticut’s 2005 Energy Independence Act to encourage large commercial and industrial customers to consider conservation and load management measures during times of peak demand;
  • Performing maintenance and upgrades on underground electric delivery systems to strengthen them;
  • Testing voltage reduction programs to verify the ability to temporarily reduce demand, if necessary;
  • Reviewing and modifying operating procedures; and
  • Continuing an aggressive educational and outreach effort to promote conservation measures across the state.