MRSK Tsentra : The first branch of IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo got its certificate of readiness for winter

IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo division got its certificate of readiness for the autumn-winter operation period of 2014-2015. The document, called by power engineers as a "pass to the winter" at number 1, confirms that experts of Kurskenergo completed all preparatory activities, and the supervising organization checked the power equipment and made sure it was ready for operation at low temperatures.

Presenting the certificate of readiness to IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo division director Alexander Rudnevsky, Deputy General Director for Technical Issues - Chief Engineer of IDGC of Centre Alexander Pilyugin stressed: "IDGC of Centre promptly organized purchasing and procurement procedures, provided the supply of materials and equipment, thanks to what the company's branches were able to perform all the necessary activities to prepare for the autumn-winter operation period in full and in due time."

Deputy Director for Technical Issues - Chief Engineer of IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo division Vyacheslav Istomin said in details on how Kurskenergo was preparing for winter to the present in the hall representatives of the Kursk Regional Administration, Kursk Office of RTN, the General Directorate of EMERCOM of Russia in the Kursk region, a branch of JSC "SO UES" - "Regional dispatch centre of power systems of the Kursk and Orel regions", and journalists of leading regional media.

To obtain the "certificate of readiness" Kurskenergo's specialists during the year carried out 106 activities under the orders to prepare for the autumn-winter operation period of 2014-2015.

In the service area of Kurskenergo 495 km of overhead lines of 35-110 kV and 1,821.8 km of 0.4-10 kV were repaired. Significant amount of repair work on 35-110 kV power lines was made in Medvensky, Besedinsky, Gorshechensky, Kastorensky, Korenevsky, Zheleznogorsky Distribution Zones at 10-0.4 kV - in Oboyansky, Belovsky, Dmitrievsky, Solntsevsky, Schigrovsky and Manturovsky Distribution Zones. Overhauls were completed at 20 substations of 35-110 kV, 377 transformer substations and distribution points. In addition, bushings were replaced at 110 kV substations in accordance with the plan.

The power engineers also fought with one of the main causes of technological failures in the grid - trees and shrubs growing in the exclusion zone of power lines. To avoid technological failures caused by falling trees and branches onto wires of overhead lines passing through woodlands, from the beginning of the year Kurskenergo's specialists cleared of tree and shrub vegetation more than 822.5 hectares of ROWs along power lines. 341.4 hectares of ROWs of overhead lines were extended to the regulatory status.

The branch's staff had health and safety trained, including briefings on the features of work in emergency situations at low temperatures. In total, since the beginning of this year 1,548 people passed pre-examination training and examination of occupational safety regulations in Kurskenergo.

In accordance with schedules, 47 emergency drills were conducted on personnel actions at low temperatures with the elaboration of the action to put outage schedules of electricity consumption into operation and exercises to notify and gather mobile units. Lists of emergency crews were updated showing the locations of permanent deployment.

With administrations of all districts of the Kursk region plans of interaction of Distribution Zones and local authorities of districts at mass damage to the equipment and power lines were coordinated. With General Directorate of EMERCOM of Russia in the Kursk region prompt actions were worked out when possible violations at power facilities occur.

Emergency reserve of the branch in accordance with the volume actually needed on the approved lists was fully stocked.

"The certificate of readiness confirms that our entire team of power engineers, from workers and drivers to engineers and managers at all levels did everything to ensure the stable operation of the grid, reliable and uninterrupted power supply to consumers of the Kursk region, regardless of weather surprises," underlined Deputy General Director - IDGC of Centre - Kurskenergo division director Alexander Rudnevsky.