Cutouts, insulators and other pieces of hardware were replaced to proactively improve reliability for customers in a Barboursville neighborhood.
For Justin Kirk, a distribution system analysis engineer based in Teays Valley, West Virginia, improving reliability for Appalachian Power (APCo) customers is the top priority. For more than three years, Kirk’s job has revolved around analyzing data, troubleshooting outages and finding innovative solutions that solve complex challenges.
At the start of this year, Kirk – and the entire APCo team – began proactively monitoring “blinks,” brief interruptions in power flow that last only a few seconds and often go unnoticed by customers. This feat was made possible through the installation of smart meters, allowing for a more data-driven approach to system maintenance, even down to the individual customer level.
While reviewing smart meter data in new performance tracking tools, Kirk noticed an unusual number of blinks in a Barboursville neighborhood. He promptly shared his findings with his team members, and together, they developed a plan to resolve the excess in blinks before they could lead to a noticeable, prolonged outage for customers in the area.
Shortly after, crews were on site to proactively fix the problem. Austin Scraggs and Elijah Toler, lineworkers based in Huntington, patrolled the area and identified the culprit. The two worked together to evaluate their findings and replaced the necessary equipment to repair the problem. Additionally, Scraggs and Toler coordinated with a tree crew to clear vegetation growth in the area.
Since the repairs, no abnormal blink issues have been discovered in the area.
“Our goal is to ensure that every customer has reliable service, even in the face of unseen challenges,” said Kirk. “By leveraging data and collaborating as a team, we can address issues before they impact our communities. It's all about thinking ahead.”
Kirk is among many APCo team members throughout West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee committed to proactively improving reliability for the company’s 1.1 million customers.
“It may seem small, but every blink we fix is a step toward making sure our customers have dependable electric service.”
Watch this short video for more information about how APCo is working to improve reliability in your area.