Reliability
Analyzing the Details
Co-ops keep detailed records of interruptions of service to help determine reasonable steps for preventing future recurrence of such interruptions. The average length of interruption per consumer are tracked annually in four major cause categories: power supplier, major storm, scheduled maintenance and all other (e.g., equipment breakdown or malfunction).
Some rural electric cooperatives have installed or are in the process of installing a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system allows a co-op to monitor voltage and current values by circuit and phase for all substations. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system alerts the co-op's operations department when voltage levels fall outside the allowable range, when fault currents are detected, and when substation reclosers have locked out. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition-operated switches are installed at certain points on the system to remotely switch the load if there is a transmission outage to the substation.
Getting the Message Out
Communication with member-consumers about issues involving reliability also is a top priority. Iowa's electric cooperatives work together to inform member-consumers about peak times for energy consumption, the importance of knowing where overhead and underground lines exist before moving large equipment or digging, the process for reporting outages, and the approach used to restore power.
Information about reliability issues is communicated through annual and district meetings, co-op newsletters, Living with Energy in Iowa magazine, public service announcements and special mailings.
Electric cooperatives are committed to meeting the highest level of standards in providing power to their member-consumers in rural Iowa. At the forefront of all business operations is a consumer-driven approach to powering the communities and people served.