SCE’s multiyear plan builds on the progress made last year to reduce the risk of fire ignitions caused by utility infrastructure.
The company’s 2020 plan will advance the maturity of SCE’s wildfire mitigation capabilities in a number of dimensions.
In 2020, SCE proposes to:
Install at least 700 circuit miles of covered conductor, reducing ignitions caused by objects that contact distribution power lines or conductor-to-conductor contact.
Install fast-acting fuses at more than 3,000 locations; these fuses help interrupt electric current more quickly and reduce the risk of ignitions.
Continue enhanced inspections, applying advances in the company’s risk model to prioritize and address the inspection findings for the overhead assets across transmission, sub-transmission, distribution and generation facilities in high fire risk areas.
Deploy at least 375 weather stations.
By year’s end, the company will have one of the country’s largest, densest networks of weather stations.
Actively identify and trim or remove trees that may pose a risk of falling into power lines.
Advance new technologies.
SCE is piloting Distribution Fault Anticipation and Early Fault Detection, a set of complementary predictive technologies that provide advance warning of potential equipment failures and allow for proactive repairs, thus minimizing ignition risks.
The company is also piloting “Open Phase” wire-down technology, a novel way of detecting and isolating wire-down incidents that could pose a wildfire risk.
Leverage machine learning and analytics, also known as “big data,” to improve inspections and automated sensing of electric system and equipment conditions.
This big data effort will continue to drive improvements in safety and reliability as these capabilities mature and expand.
Engage Access and Functional Needs customers and partner with community based organizations and community stakeholders to support their resiliency, working with existing philanthropic partners and deploying customer programs for PSPS preparedness, all-hazard awareness and emergency planning.
The company will seek opportunities to accelerate efforts beyond the targets in the plan where possible.
SCE plans to invest approximately $3.8 billion to implement the 2020-22 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. ■
A strong storm that originated over the Pacific has tracked through the Great Basin and is currently transitioning across the Rockies to redevelop across the central High Plains later today into early Saturday morning.