The transmission towers and substations of the energy sector are responsible for much more than just transferring electrical power to remote locations. People often think they are a simple form of infrastructure, but they are highly sensitive to the maintenance processes. The transmission towers and substations need to be maintained regularly.
Here are some reasons why a utility services company maintains transmission Structures
Improved Safety
Transmission towers and substations play an important role in getting electricity to your home. They carry electricity across the country, and they can be quite large and intimidating. You may have seen them near your home or on a road trip. Utility services companies generally maintain these structures. While some maintenance is for convenience, much of it is for safety. Each year, people die from electrocution caused by transmission towers and substations that were not properly maintained.
These facilities need to be maintained because they’re in constant operation. The longer they go without being serviced, the more likely they’ll experience issues that can lead to breakdowns or accidents. No one mans the vast majority of transmission towers and substations at any given time, so if something goes wrong with them, it’s usually not possible for anyone to respond quickly enough to prevent an accident or outage from occurring.
Lower Operating Expenses
Maintaining your equipment lowers operating expenses, helps prevent equipment failures, and reduces the number of forced outages. The more attention you pay to maintenance, the more your equipment will last. In the case of electrical system structures, this could extend their life by as much as 25%.
Three different types of maintenance should be performed on transmission towers and substations: routine, periodic, and corrective. The frequency with which you perform each type depends on what kinds of structures you have. Routine maintenance takes place most often and helps preserve tower and substation assets.
Increased System Capacity
Transmission lines can be made from aluminum, copper, steel wire, or cables. They can be bare or covered with electrical insulator material such as porcelain. When the transmission lines are not insulated properly, the current is prone to arcing. These arcs can cause fires and are dangerous for workers dealing with transmission system issues. Regular maintenance of the insulators on transmission towers can prevent these fires, keeping workers safe and allowing the network to operate at maximum capacity.
Reduced Equipment Failures & Outages
There are many reasons why equipment failures happen, but corrosion is one of the most common. Corrosion occurs when the metal comes into contact with moisture and rusts over time. This can be prevented through proper care and maintenance of equipment. However, if left unchecked, it can result in broken wires or even explosions due to electrical arcing inside the tower itself.
The maintenance of transmission towers and substations reduces equipment failures & outages. The constant inspection of electrical wires and connections can help determine when they need to be replaced. This can prevent serious problems that could otherwise lead to electrical fires or blackouts.
You can count on an expert crew from a utility services company for transmission towers and substations to keep them running in tip-top shape.
