Electricity Today T&D Magazine

As electrical systems age, operating costs increase while reliability dwindles. Given most utilities and industrial facilities are highly capital intensive and have limited financial and other resources to make wholesale equipment replacements, regular maintenance is critical for controlling the symptoms of aging.

Maintenance is a key part of lifecycle asset management. Preserving equipment health maximizes the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of substation assets, including transformers, circuit breakers, protection equipment, CTs, PTs, CCVTs, batteries, transmission lines, and more. Effective maintenance also helps minimize lifecycle and insurance-related costs, accidents, and environmental compliance issues, reduce the risk of unplanned shutdowns and negative publicity, and ultimately extend the life of an asset.

The Evolution of Maintenance Practices

Utilities have long relied on three types of maintenance techniques: letting assets run until they fail, maintaining assets only when absolutely necessary, or implementing a fixed maintenance schedule. But these approaches alone don’t provide the level of protection...