In reference to a PD query.
Our electricity{Hydro]is produced by diesel generators [3] in a plant overlooking the community. Operated by Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro it has become a reliable albeit expensive source for most purposes in our homes and businesses.
The plant is a new high tech operation; it is controlled by computers with just two local employers doing routine checks and maintenance. Any major problems with computers and engines repair crews fly in from Goose Bay.
The distribution [lines and poles] are quite the hardy types given the weather conditions and the soil conditions.
No high tech methods are used in erecting the poles. An excavator digs a hole, swings the pole in, crew throw in some rock, soil, tamp it down. In some cases were you have intersecting lines, or the pole has a transformer on it, or the soil conditions warrant, a wooden crib [using 6x6] is built around the bottom of pole and filled with large rocks.
The lines are all hung using manual labor as main source. Pole climbing is an essential skill for “line men” and general maintenance people. When the new lines need tightening the end of the line is hooked to a pick up and pulled on and stretched that way. Also hung on the poles are the Telephone and Cable TV lines.
Recent years have seen very few outages due to weather, quite amazing really. We have had the odd downed line due to constant wind movement, and or freezing rain plus the occasional short due to aging connectors and the like, but overall we have been well served I would think.
Not so in years past, but those outage problems were due to aging generation equipment and bad regional management oversight.
Thanks to a study done by a local citizen over two years, and with the help of the local government of the day, we ended up with not only new generators but a new building. And some naughty boys in GB got a telling off or two.
So after the backgrounder I guess to answer PD questions re why we don’t have more downed lines in storms; not sure there is any one reason.
Could be that we do not have the amount of wet snow and sleet as down south. Our air gets colder quicker and stays that way for months and months. Our winds are constant at times but rarely do we get above the 90 to 100 KPH range. The poles are a lot lower than in the south for sure, and maybe a lot closer to each other.
I do know we do have some anxious times in storms, but given their intensity and occurrence we get off rather well. Another contributor maybe the high hills around the back [south and west] of the town and high Islands to the east all giving us some protection.
Our electricity{Hydro]is produced by diesel generators [3] in a plant overlooking the community. Operated by Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro it has become a reliable albeit expensive source for most purposes in our homes and businesses.
The plant is a new high tech operation; it is controlled by computers with just two local employers doing routine checks and maintenance. Any major problems with computers and engines repair crews fly in from Goose Bay.
The distribution [lines and poles] are quite the hardy types given the weather conditions and the soil conditions.
No high tech methods are used in erecting the poles. An excavator digs a hole, swings the pole in, crew throw in some rock, soil, tamp it down. In some cases were you have intersecting lines, or the pole has a transformer on it, or the soil conditions warrant, a wooden crib [using 6x6] is built around the bottom of pole and filled with large rocks.
The lines are all hung using manual labor as main source. Pole climbing is an essential skill for “line men” and general maintenance people. When the new lines need tightening the end of the line is hooked to a pick up and pulled on and stretched that way. Also hung on the poles are the Telephone and Cable TV lines.
Recent years have seen very few outages due to weather, quite amazing really. We have had the odd downed line due to constant wind movement, and or freezing rain plus the occasional short due to aging connectors and the like, but overall we have been well served I would think.
Not so in years past, but those outage problems were due to aging generation equipment and bad regional management oversight.
Thanks to a study done by a local citizen over two years, and with the help of the local government of the day, we ended up with not only new generators but a new building. And some naughty boys in GB got a telling off or two.
So after the backgrounder I guess to answer PD questions re why we don’t have more downed lines in storms; not sure there is any one reason.
Could be that we do not have the amount of wet snow and sleet as down south. Our air gets colder quicker and stays that way for months and months. Our winds are constant at times but rarely do we get above the 90 to 100 KPH range. The poles are a lot lower than in the south for sure, and maybe a lot closer to each other.
I do know we do have some anxious times in storms, but given their intensity and occurrence we get off rather well. Another contributor maybe the high hills around the back [south and west] of the town and high Islands to the east all giving us some protection.
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