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Distribution Protection


ArmorBuiltTM Wildfire Shield Proven Protection for Utility Poles

IntroductionIn November of 2018, the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history burned a total of 240 square miles, destroyed 18,804 structures and resulted in 85 civilian fatalities. Known as the Camp Fire, it devastated several communities including the towns of Paradise and...

Disaster & Recovery


Climate Crisis Threatens Canada’s Ice Roads for Indigenous Communities

The warming climate is rapidly transforming the landscape of northern Canada, particularly for Indigenous communities who rely on ice roads for critical supplies. These roads, made from snow and ice, are the only accessible routes during winter months, connecting remote First Nations to the outside...

Overhead Distribution


Q&A: Transmission Line Inspection Using Robotics

A: Hydro-Québec’s power transmission system, the most extensive in North America, covers close to 34,000 km. Similar to many power utilities, we need thorough infrastructure inspections to ensure system reliability, availability, and performance.Therefore, we have, developed robotic...

Wire and Cable


The Overlooked Benefits of High-Performance Powerline Conductors

Background:For over 100 years Transmission Engineers have relied on aluminum conductors strengthened by steel core wires, commonly referred to as ACSR conductors. These conductors offered reasonable performance and durability and were capable of operating at temperatures up to 93° C. Above this...

Case Study


Case Study: Rapid Changes in Bushing Health

IntroductionContinuous online monitoring of bushings provides real-time information which can result in the early detection of a possible failure. Challenge: A Major AlarmA prominent U.S. utility was looking for a way to improve system reliability for their 138kV assets. They researched and...

Pole Line Hardware


Utility Pole Showdown: Wood vs. Steel

A recent study that takes an in-depth look at the environmental performance of wood and steel utility poles challenges current perceptions on the sustainability advantages of wood poles when compared with steel poles. The detailed study, titled “Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Southern...

Overhead T&D

Lightning Discoveries & Technologies

How this phenomenon affects electric utilities

BY JIM SIEBERT, FOX 26 Chief Meteorologist

Advances in technology are helping scientists understand lightning in ways that were not possible a few years ago. Beforehand, meteorologists primarily studied lightning, focusing most of their efforts on explaining why and how this phenomenon occurs. However, geologists and other earth scientists have joined in the study of unraveling lightning mysteries. A new understanding of why lightning strikes locations is starting to...

Overhead T&D Articles