Oncor is the largest utility in Texas, serving more than three million customers. In this presentation, Kyle Stuckly from Oncor will explain the advanced weather intelligence used in order to restore power faster, as well as keep crews safe.
Using Advanced Weather Intelligence to Restore Power Faster
1. Using Weather Information for
Outage Management
June 2013
Kyle Stuckly, Business Continuity Consultant
@Oncor
2. Today’s Outline
Who is Oncor
Why is lightning a significant threat
How we use Schneider Electric Weather Tools in Outage
Management
Benefits realized
3. Who is Oncor
Oncor is a regulated electric transmission and
distribution service provider that serves 10
million customers across Texas. Using cutting
edge technology, more than 3,000 employees
work to safely maintain reliable electric delivery
service with the largest distribution and
transmission system in Texas; made up of
approximately 119,000 miles of lines and more
than 3 million meters across the state.
5. Why is Lightning a Significant Threat?
Safety of Workers
Significant cause of outages
Predictor of storm intensity, High number of lightning
strikes is associated with more intense storms
9. Real-time Lightning Display/Detection
Used extensively in our three
operating centers
Real-time detection & display
of each lightning strike
Updated every minute
Alerts & displays on a cell
phones and computers in
Operating Centers
See exactly where lightning is
occurring and know when to
resume safely
11. Storm Location and Corridors
Shows the location and path of a storm over the next 30 minutes and the
conditions associated with each as it moves toward populated areas (Alerts)
Ability to drill down for a detailed explanation of intensity, conditions, speed,
etc.
12. Alerts
Locations of interest (high population areas, corporate buildings, etc.)
Provides early warning and all clear when lightning/storm has passed.
13. Mobile phone
This feature brings the weather to
particulars users. Various Distribution
and Transmission managers across Oncor
carry the weather with them on their
phone.
14. Smart phone alerting
In addition to alerts being shown on the PC. Some Oncor users receive the alerts on their smart phone. Recent
example is weather alerts for Mutual Assistance leaders in Oklahoma.
15. Online Consulting Forum
This feature helps with particular
weather impacts. Recently, I asked
about our severe weather threat on June
1st
.
Response:
DALLAS-FORT WORTH/WACO, TX:
Good afternoon! Not expecting severe
weather in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
this evening. Front is going through with
cooler, more stable northerly winds. But a
few passing showers and isolated
thunderstorms could occur through the
evening.
17. Benefits
Safety of workers
Know when it’s safe for crews to resume work outdoors
Reduce length of outages
Improve customer relations
Better able to accurately project estimated time of restoration
Provide timely storm and location information
More accurately determining outage causes