The McDonnell Group

ATLANTA -  Feb 23, 2010 -  No matter how smart the grid becomes, we will always rely on the dedication and professionalism of utility industry linemen when the weather gets rough and systems go down. With the streak of 2010 winter storms that have swept across the USA in recent weeks, there have been an inevitable and largely unavoidable waive of weather related power outages across the Eastern half of the country. Absent a wholesale and impractical effort to move all systems underground (at the cost of untold trillions that many a utility regulator and politician have learned first hand in the inevitable “hearings” after weather related outages), storm induced electric system outages will always be with us in some measure.

Having worked on utility outage management systems for many years earlier in this past decade, I’ve made a lot of friends who have dedicated their careers to keeping the lights on when the going gets rough. I’ve checked in with many of them these past several weeks and heard a lot of stories of long days working to restore power for customers. Most consumers realize how hard these crews work just by appreciating and observing the weather conditions they brave to get the lights back on.

No matter how “smart” the grid becomes we will always rely on the good judgment, professionalism and dedication of this unique group of utility personnel who sometimes make the supreme sacrifice of their lives in service to their companies, communities and customers. According to published reports and research studies, electric utility linemen have a roughly four times higher incidence of electrocution than regular electricians who themselves have an inherently dangerous job. The utility industry, led by the efforts of organizations like the IBEW, has made significant strides to improve safety and working conditions over the years.

Nevertheless, electric utility line work is an inherently dangerous profession regardless of the most earnest safety and training efforts. In fact, it is considered one of the top ten most dangerous professions based on published reports. While commercial fishing for the “deadliest catch” results in the leading share of mortal injuries by profession, electric utility linemen regrettably still aren’t that far behind with several dozen killed or severely injured in the United States each year alone.

During my time in the US Navy, I served for part of my service as our ship’s electrical officer and in that capacity I managed the ship’s safety tag out program. We learned firsthand in training and in operations that safety was job number one and we drilled this daily. This same military emphasis and approach to safety must govern all smart grid initiatives underway at electric utilities. Lives depend on this.

In the push to deploy new technology, advanced automation, and distributed generation resources, system and utility personnel safety must act as a “governor” and bedrock foundation for all efforts.  As distributed generation interconnection efforts increase -- including premise based solar, battery and other technologies -- system automation and safety devices must ensure the avoidance of back feed into our power systems that could place utility field workers at increased risk of electrocution and death.

Finally, as the median age of utility workers increases and the industry seeks to recruit and train a new generation of engineers and field linemen in the coming decade, there can be no more important or “smarter” grid investments than industry investments in training and isolation equipment that ensures the highest possible safety levels for field crews in the United States and worldwide.

I would like to thank all the linemen and all utility staff who’ve been out there working 24x7 to get the lights back on these past several weeks.  Stay warm and be smart!

Interested readers can learn more about the history and professionalism of electric utility linemen at:

http://www.linemansrodeokc.com/aboutus.html

http://www.linemanmuseum.com/hall_of_fame.html