Gulf Power: Power Grid Investment Paying Off In Reliability

March 4, 2015

Heavy rains cause a limb to fall on a power line. A smart device called a recloser senses the fault and de-energizes the line. The limb slides off the line and falls to the ground. The recloser restores power automatically — and it all happens in a matter of seconds.

Prior to the installation of smart devices like the recloser, crews would have been dispatched to the site of the power outage to make repairs — and the outage would have been considerably longer.

Last year, Gulf Power customers enjoyed fewer outages than in any time in recent history. In fact, investments in the power grid have improved reliability for the utility’s 436,000 customers by almost 40 percent since 2010.

“The key to keeping reliability high for customers is investing in technology, maintenance and upgrades,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications manager. “Making sure our customers can count on us for reliable electricity is very important, and the investments we continue to make in our system are paying off.”

Measuring reliability includes reviewing the total number of outages and the length of outages. In 2014, the number of power outages caused by lightning increased by 26 percent. However, the duration of those outages did not increase at all from 2013.

The reasons are many. Gulf Power is in the middle of the largest power grid construction project in company history. Transmission lines are being upgraded, and substations are being rebuilt or upgraded.

Smart, self-healing devices also reduce the duration of outages. The installation of lightning arrestors helps reduce the number of outages, and installation of reclosers can help reduce the number of customers who are affected. Since 2010, Gulf Power has installed more than 600 reclosers that help reduce the number of customers who would experience a power outage. A recloser is essentially a smart circuit breaker that can automatically restore service once the fault is no longer on the grid.

Another vital program that helps improve reliability is Gulf Power’s vegetation management program. The annual program involves trimming trees near power lines, which helps keep branches from causing power outages. This is considered a critically important program heading into tropical storm season.

“Upgrading and improving our infrastructure is making our power grid stronger and more robust,” Rogers said, “and will help maintain high reliability today and into the future.”

Pictured top: Gulf Power crews work to upgrade lines and equipment. Pictured inset: A substation upgraded with new equipment. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Gulf Power: Power Grid Investment Paying Off In Reliability”

  1. Sage 2 on March 5th, 2015 5:49 pm

    There’s always the opportunity to go back to kerosene or Aladdin Lamps or “lighter knots”to see by. I’m no advocate for increased rates, but do a little assessment as to what you and your family uses each day to power those appliances, tvs,’fridges/icebox, heat, and all that stuff we enjoy.

    You always have the option of terminating the service. There are programs to assist should one be able to define and prove the need for assistance. In other words, get back to nature!

    I don’t like the increases, but I enjoy, in this older period of my life,…not to have to deal with the “good old days” of which as a child and a young adult, I tired of.

    Think about it!

  2. SHO-NUFF on March 4th, 2015 7:06 pm

    RE: Frank,

    From Public Power.. http://publicpower.com/pdf/rates/2014/2014_december_rates.pdf

    Cost for 1000 KWH December 2014

    FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES-NW $131.00
    GULF POWER $128.70
    FLORIDA PUBLIC UTILITIES $123.35
    DUKE ENERGY $122.16
    TAMPA ELECTRIC $107.39
    FL POWER & LIGHT $98.97

  3. old man on March 4th, 2015 5:03 pm

    i live on a fixed income and dont like large power bills but i do like lights and all the other things REMEMBER IF YOU USE IT YOU PAY FOR IT

  4. Mr. Reality on March 4th, 2015 12:44 pm

    At a time when natural gas prices were falling like a rock GP had the insight to charge us 500 million for a coal scrubber for a plant they use to not really produce much power SINCE GP BUYS half the power the RESELL US from Alabama Power…

    Didnt we just pay to re do the whole network 10 years ago when Ivan hit?

  5. Frank on March 4th, 2015 11:13 am

    Ref… SHO-NUFF on Considering what Gulf Power charges, one of the most expensive electric utilities in the State, I certainly hope they are adapting the latest technologies available!

    And reference your DATA – PROOF of this? Just asking..

  6. Sam on March 4th, 2015 7:37 am

    I am on EREC, my power used to cut off and on 2 or 3 times a day. Not for long periods, just enough to screw up the wifi, clocks, anything digital. Very annoying. Lately it has been much better. It seldom goes off. GREAT

  7. Jane on March 4th, 2015 4:17 am

    When bad weather comes in we will see whether or the 20% increase in 2 years in our Gulf power bills is worth it.

  8. SHO-NUFF on March 4th, 2015 2:03 am

    Considering what Gulf Power charges, one of the most expensive electric utilities in the State, I certainly hope they are adapting the latest technologies available!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News