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How Florida's power will be restored (and how Puerto Rico's is currently)
Last edited Wed Sep 28, 2022, 07:41 PM - Edit history (1)
The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide.Link: https://www.publicpower.org/storm-center-and-mutual-aid
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Mutual aid is electric utilities helping each other in times of need. The American Public Power Association, together with state and regional public power utilities and organizations, coordinates the mutual aid network for the nation’s public power utilities. Utilities that want to give and get help for power restoration after a disaster sign up for this network.
When (and even before) a major disaster hits a utility’s territory and the utility knows that its own crews and equipment won’t be enough to restore power quickly, it calls for mutual aid. It provides its best estimate of how many people it needs and what type of skills they should have. The utility also specifies equipment and material needs. Other utilities in the network respond with what they can offer.
The actual dispatch and movement of crews from different utilities is coordinated by utility and public power association personnel who volunteer as regional and national mutual aid coordinators.
When (and even before) a major disaster hits a utility’s territory and the utility knows that its own crews and equipment won’t be enough to restore power quickly, it calls for mutual aid. It provides its best estimate of how many people it needs and what type of skills they should have. The utility also specifies equipment and material needs. Other utilities in the network respond with what they can offer.
The actual dispatch and movement of crews from different utilities is coordinated by utility and public power association personnel who volunteer as regional and national mutual aid coordinators.
Also see this APPA Fact Sheet that details the process: https://www.publicpower.org/system/files/documents/Mutual%20Aid%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Of course, this is all done in coordination with FEMA and the state's emergency management so there's minimal conflict between agencies and that aid is going where it's needed most.
These are crews heading there today from my area's utility:
Link to tweet
This is an extremely challenging task. Not only must crews and trucks be efficiently dispatched, but also massive quantities of repair materials such as poles, cables, transformers and insulators have to somehow flow into the disaster zone. Plus, the crews must be housed and fed.
Best of luck and wishes for minimal damage and injury to everyone affected by this monster storm.
KY.......
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Sometimes I forget to proof-read the title.....
KY
