Executing Energized Re-Conductoring of Transmission Lines Projects

The demand for availability and reliability of the electrical power system service has resulted in increased use of energized work. For particular transmission line upgrade activities in electric power transmission facilities, energized re-conductoring work has become the preferred alternative over de-energized re-conductoring work. A significant number of re-conductoring activities for high voltage transmission lines, typically 110-115 kV and above, are performed energized without the need to take the transmission line out of service. Energized re-conductoring prevents congestion of the existing transmission facilities and maintains the transmission grid reliability level by avoiding taking facilities out of service. In general, high voltage transmission lines contribute considerably to the reliability and economic operation of a power system. There is a significant impact of taking these key facilities out of service (even if at all possible) on power system reliability and economics. This condition has driven electric power utilities and the industry to analyze and include the alternative of performing the maintenance and/or construction activities like re-conductoring using live work techniques. This paper will present the challenges encountered in energized re-conductoring work during the project preparation and the field execution of such work. The paper will address key challenge elements to consider in the planning of energized re-conductoring projects based on the experience obtained over the years in actual projects.