May 19, 2021 | Safety and Security
We’re powering our Live Line Electrical Safety Exhibit back up and taking it on the road for a 2021 tour.
And we want to give your organization a chance to reserve your own demonstration.
The exhibit is a 7,200-volt electrical distribution grid that features live electrical wires, utility poles and transformers, used to present dangers associated with electricity. Trained PPL staff wearing protective equipment use ladders, gloves, shovels and other tools in a controlled environment to recreate sparks, flames, smoke and crackling that occur when items come in contact with live electrical lines. They’ll also show what happens when a tree branch and a Mylar balloon contact wires.
The exhibit will be making stops across our 29-county service territory through early November, following a lengthy hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And all demonstrations are free.
We recently kicked off our tour by visiting Rutherford Fire Co. in Harrisburg and providing a demonstration to 32 first responders.
To schedule a demonstration, email Doug Haupt at dlhaupt@pplweb.com or call 610-297-2461. Available dates for 2021 are limited, but we are starting to accept bookings for 2022 as well.
The following are some requests for groups hosting the exhibit:
- An audience of at least 50 people is required.
- We need an outdoor area suitable to accommodate the exhibit.
- We ask that hosts invite surrounding first responder organizations to attend.
- We appreciate if host organizations allow the general public to attend the demonstration.
The exhibit will be hosted outdoors and our presenters will follow all of the most up-to-date COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Health Department.
Don’t miss your chance to see the Live Line Exhibit back in action!
May 13, 2021 | Safety and Security
With the weather warming up, yard sale season is fast approaching, and advertisers are also in search of outdoor space to help spread their message. It’s important to remember that utility poles are off-limits. Attaching signs, advertisements, flyers and other materials to utility poles can cause potentially serious safety problems.
What makes posting on utility poles unsafe? Items are typically attached with nails or staples, which can injure line workers who may have to climb the pole to make a repair. They also can puncture critical safety gear, like rubber gloves and sleeves. Even a tiny hole in this protective equipment can present a serious and potentially deadly threat.
Posting on utility poles is also illegal. State law makes it a summary offense to drive a nail or tack, or attach any metal or hard substance, into an electric utility pole.
We’re asking for your help. If you’ve placed something on one of our wooden poles, please take it down and keep our crews’ safety in mind. Thank you!
May 4, 2021 | Safety and Security
The start of National Electrical Safety Month is a reminder to take inventory of electrical components around your home and business. It’s also a good time to share with others the importance of staying safe near overhead and underground power lines and other electrical equipment.
Always stay away from any power lines that may fall to the ground and always assume they’re energized. If you see a fallen line report it by calling 1-800-342-5775 and we’ll send someone out to the location.
Here are some electrical safety tips to consider all-year round.
Inside your home or business:
- Make sure all power cords are in good condition and not frayed or cracked.
- Do not put nails or staples through cords and don’t run cords under carpeting.
- Make sure plugs fit securely and are not forced into an outlet.
- Use light bulbs that are the correct, recommended wattage.
- Use extension cords only for temporary, not permanent wiring.
- Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in areas where water and electricity can make contact.
- Contact a licensed electrical contractor if you have flickering lights, sparks, non-functioning outlets, or need wiring repairs or upgrades.
Outside:
- Before doing any work that involves ladders or climbing, make sure there are no power lines overhead.
- Know what’s below! Call 811 at least three business days before starting a project that involves digging.
- Don’t plant trees under power lines or near other electrical equipment.
- Stay away from pad-mounted transformers, the large green metal boxes that are typically seen on the ground in housing developments.
- Keep power tools away from water and don’t operate then when it’s raining.
For more electrical safety resources, check out pplelectric.com/safety.
Apr 29, 2021 | Safety and Security
Who says electricity — and learning about it — can’t be fun?
More than 5,000 children are discovering just how fun it can be, thanks to an entertaining and educational theater program we’re offering to schools across Pennsylvania.
The show, typically performed in school auditoriums and gymnasiums by actors, is now hosted via livestream, due to the pandemic, to ensure the safety of children and actors.
The latest performance — “Captain Wattage” — was pre-recorded and is being presented to 33 schools from April 27 and May 19.
“Captain Wattage” tells a superhero-themed story about the uses of electricity and how to stay safe around it, as well as how it is created. A livestream host introduces and recaps the information, and students and teachers can submit questions and responses through a live Q&A feature.
These events are supplemented by student playbooks, posters and a full e-learning package including games, activities, e-books, and hands-on lessons for students to enjoy even after the program concludes.
Over 105,000 children have seen electrical safety theater performances since the start of our program.
Apr 20, 2021 | Reliability
We’re using technological innovation and data to reduce costs, improve safety, and keep the lights on for our customers.
This past winter we piloted dynamic line rating (DLR) technology on two of our transmission lines. When integrated successfully into operations, this technology has the potential to delay costly investments.
We’re excited to report that our pilot was successful. Thanks to the accuracy reported by our DLR sensors, we didn’t need to build new lines or upgrade the transmission line to avoid congestion.
The use of DLR sensors on our transmission lines saved millions of dollars that can be invested into preparing for the grid of the future. It also prevents us from having to do construction work.
Our company is one of the first to successfully integrate this technology into operations.
Let’s take a closer look at how it works.
The energy grid moves electricity like the roadway system moves vehicles. The grid has two main components. The transmission system (#2) acts like the highway, moving energy over long distances and across state lines. The distribution system (#4) acts like local roadways, delivering energy directly to homes and businesses.
Like traffic on the highway, the grid becomes congested when the transmission system can no longer deliver the electricity without exceeding certain limits. When this happens, just like roads need to be expanded or added, transmission owners, like us, must upgrade or build new electrical lines.
DLR sensors give real-time information on conditions that affect transmission line performance – like wind speed and line temperature. This information is used to increase the amount of electricity delivered over existing lines and decrease congestion.
Traditionally, static line ratings are taken when the lines are initially built, and the ratings are used indefinitely to make investment decisions. So, even though the environmental factors are continually changing, the rating assumes the most conservative factors are at play. When the grid becomes congested, we may be unable to increase the amount of electricity because the initial static line rating assumes we cannot. This means we must invest in upgrading or adding transmission lines.
“The information we are collecting is helping us better balance strong resiliency while holding down costs,” said Dave Quier, vice president of Transmission and Substation. “Not having to make upgrades to Harwood-Susquehanna saves money, avoids construction work and gives our team more flexibility to invest money where customers will see bigger reliability results.”
This is just another example of how we’re using technology, innovation and data to improve safety, reduce cost, and keep the lights on for you.
