CMP: Bizarre Forklift Incident Highlights Benefits of a Modern Grid
Central Maine Power (CMP) demonstrated the effectiveness of its modern grid technology following a bizarre incident where vandals drove a stolen forklift into high voltage transmission lines, cutting power to nearly 7,000 customers. Thanks to automated reclosers and remote-operated switches, CMP restored power to over 80% of affected customers within 10 minutes.
The incident highlights CMP's ongoing investment in grid modernization, including a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Deployment Office and a portion of $6.6 million in grants from the Maine Grid Resilience Program. These investments aim to enhance grid automation, reduce outage durations, and improve overall system reliability.
Central Maine Power (CMP) ha dimostrato l'efficacia della sua tecnologia di rete moderna in seguito a un bizzarro incidente in cui i vandali hanno guidato un carrello elevatore rubato contro linee di trasmissione ad alta tensione, interrompendo l'energia a quasi 7.000 clienti. Grazie a ripristinatori automatici e interruttori operati a distanza, CMP ha ripristinato l'energia a oltre l'80% dei clienti colpiti in meno di 10 minuti.
L'incidente mette in evidenza l'impegno continuo di CMP nell'ammodernamento della rete, che include un contributo di 30 milioni di dollari dall'Ufficio per il Deployment della Rete del Dipartimento dell'Energia degli Stati Uniti e una parte di 6,6 milioni di dollari in sovvenzioni dal Programma per la Resilienza della Rete del Maine. Questi investimenti mirano a migliorare l'automazione della rete, ridurre la durata delle interruzioni e migliorare l'affidabilità complessiva del sistema.
Central Maine Power (CMP) demostró la efectividad de su tecnología moderna de red tras un extraño incidente en el que vándalos estrellaron un montacargas robado contra líneas de transmisión de alta tensión, cortando la energía a casi 7,000 clientes. Gracias a los reconectadores automáticos y a los interruptores operados remotamente, CMP restauró la energía a más del 80% de los clientes afectados en menos de 10 minutos.
El incidente destaca la inversión continua de CMP en la modernización de la red, que incluye una subvención de 30 millones de dólares de la Oficina de Implementación de Redes del Departamento de Energía de EE. UU. y una parte de 6,6 millones de dólares en ayudas del Programa de Resiliencia de la Red de Maine. Estas inversiones tienen como objetivo mejorar la automatización de la red, reducir la duración de los cortes y mejorar la fiabilidad general del sistema.
중부 메인 전력(CMP)은 방해꾼들이 훔친 지게차를 고전압 송전선에 충돌시켜 거의 7,000명의 고객에게 전력을 차단한 이상한 사건 이후 현대 그리드 기술의 효과를 입증했습니다. 자동화된 리클로저와 원격 조작 스위치 덕분에 CMP는 영향을 받은 고객의 80% 이상에게 10분 이내에 전력을 복구했습니다.
이 사건은 CMP가 그리드 현대화에 지속적으로 투자하고 있음을 강조합니다. 여기에는 미국 에너지부의 그리드 배포 사무소로부터의 3천만 달러의 보조금과 메인 그리드 복원력 프로그램의 660만 달러 보조금의 일부가 포함됩니다. 이러한 투자는 그리드 자동화를 개선하고, 정전 지속 시간을 단축시키며, 전반적인 시스템 신뢰성을 향상시키는 것을 목표로 합니다.
Central Maine Power (CMP) a démontré l'efficacité de sa technologie moderne de réseau à la suite d'un incident bizarre où des vandales ont poussé un chariot élévateur volé dans des lignes de transmission à haute tension, coupant l'électricité à près de 7 000 clients. Grâce à des reconnecteurs automatiques et des interrupteurs télécommandés, CMP a rétabli l'électricité pour plus de 80 % des clients touchés en moins de 10 minutes.
L'incident met en évidence l'engagement continu de CMP envers la modernisation du réseau, y compris une subvention de 30 millions de dollars du Bureau de la mise en réseau du ministère de l'Énergie des États-Unis et une partie de 6,6 millions de dollars de subventions du Programme de résilience du réseau du Maine. Ces investissements visent à améliorer l'automatisation du réseau, à réduire la durée des pannes et à améliorer la fiabilité globale du système.
Central Maine Power (CMP) hat die Wirksamkeit seiner modernen Netztechnologie nach einem merkwürdigen Vorfall demonstriert, bei dem Vandalen einen gestohlenen Gabelstapler in Hochspannungsleitungen fuhren und den Strom für fast 7.000 Kunden unterbrachen. Dank automatischer Wiederherstellungsgeräte und fernbedienbarer Schalter stellte CMP die Energie in weniger als 10 Minuten für über 80% der betroffenen Kunden wieder her.
Der Vorfall hebt CMPs fortlaufende Investitionen in die Modernisierung des Netzes hervor, darunter einen 30-Millionen-Dollar-Zuschuss des Grid Deployment Office des US-Energieministeriums und einen Teil von 6,6 Millionen Dollar an Zuschüssen aus dem Maine Grid Resilience Program. Diese Investitionen zielen darauf ab, die Netzautomatisierung zu verbessern, die Dauer von Stromausfällen zu verringern und die Gesamtzuverlässigkeit des Systems zu steigern.
- Rapid power restoration to 80% of affected customers within 10 minutes
- $30 million grant secured from U.S. Department of Energy for grid modernization
- Additional funding received from Maine Grid Resilience Program for system upgrades
- Ongoing investment strategy in automated reclosers and remote switches
- Power outage affecting nearly 7,000 customers due to vandalism
Insights
This incident underscores the significant benefits of grid modernization investments. The rapid restoration of power to
The $30 million GRIP grant and the portion of the
CMP's ability to remotely manage this crisis from their Energy Control Center demonstrates the operational efficiency gains from modern grid technologies. This incident highlights how utility companies can leverage automation to:
- Reduce manual intervention requirements
- Minimize field crew deployment for minor issues
- Improve response times to outages
Most customers had their power restored remotely in ten minutes thanks to automated reclosers and remote operated switches
Pictures of the entangled industrial forklift prior to its removal and CMP repairs on Sunday, 8/18/2024 (Photo: Business Wire)
Despite this bizarre incident, Central Maine Power (CMP) crews were able to quickly restore power to more than
The fast restoration time represents a notable advancement in how the modern grid is capable of being managed remotely from CMP’s Energy Control Center. The installation of more automated reclosers and remote switches on the system is part of the company’s ongoing investment strategy. In this case, grid technology reduced the number of customers affected by this outage while utility workers dedicated more than six hours to making the scene safe, untangling the industrial forklift, and performing equipment repairs.
“This type of outcome is precisely why we continue to pursue strategies and investments to further enhance grid automation,” said Adam Desrosiers, Vice President of Electric Operations for CMP. “We know our customers are depending on the electricity we deliver to work, to drive cars and to heat homes. These devices can greatly reduce the scale and duration of power outages for our customers – no matter the cause.”
As part of its strategy to invest in more grid automation, CMP is working to identify additional funding resources to accelerate grid modernization strategies.
In October 2023, the
In July 2024, CMP was awarded a portion of the
Below are links to downloadable video of a CMP automated recloser, the CMP Energy Control Center and pictures of the entangled forklift:
B/Roll of Energy Control Center
About Central Maine Power: Central Maine Power Company (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., is Maine’s largest electricity transmission and distribution utility. Established in 1899 and based in
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240820365118/en/
Dustin Wlodkowski
dustin.wlodkowski@avangrid.com
207-816-2820
Source: AVANGRID, Inc.
FAQ
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