Updates & Events

Info for members about events, updates, and results

Task: Transmission & Distribution Wood Pole Fleet Management
Task Description: Collect & analyze industry wide wood pole performance data (e.g., inspection, replacement, demographic, corrective maintenance etc.) data to develop new analytics and metrics to better understand population useful life & the effect of variables such as species, original treatment type, environment, inspection providers, pole dimensions etc. Use results for data driven & analysis-based decisions – when to inspect, where to inspect, when to replace, retreatment, inspection efficacy etc.
Update:

  • Gathered 10.9 million wood pole inspection records from 31 companies.
  • Expanded analytics to include new data sources (weather and fuel models, geo-spatial information) to augment the understanding of industry wide wood pole performance.
  • Efforts underway to understand:
    • The mathematical relationship between pole serviceability and various such as species, original treatment type retreatment etc.
    • How universal are the underlying relationships?

Task: Steel Structure Fleet Management
Task Description: Collect & analyze industry wide steel structure performance data (e.g., inspection, replacement, demographic data, soil testing results, corrective maintenance etc.) to develop new analytics and metrics to better understand the performance of steel structure & the effect of variables such age, land cover type, soil chemistry, environment etc. Use results for data driven & analysis-based decisions – when to inspect, where to inspect, when to replace etc.
Update:

  • Obtained historical inspection & demographic data from two utilities.
  • Developed preliminary data model to aid utilities in collecting & populating data from various sources in a consolidated manner.
  • Developed preliminary analytical methodology & performance metrics.
  • Looking for members to provide data to help advance research.

Task: Transmission Line Conductor & Shield Wire End of Life Model Development
Task Description: Collect industry wide conductor & shield wire data, for e.g., laboratory condition assessment results from field aged samples, replacement records, demographic records. Use the data to develop new analytics and metrics to better understand the survivability conductors & shield wires & the effect of variables such as conductor type, environment etc.
Update:

  • Shield wire: Analyzed data received from one-member utility to better understand population survivability. Analysis was based on data gathered from two different approaches – forensic condition assessment results from laboratory testing and results obtained from live line (in-situ) inspections.
  • Conductors: Analyzed data from two member utilities (age, grease condition, type, size, configuration, span vs. jumper, phase vs. shield-wire, location, environment) to better understand:
    • Population survivability and end of life estimates
    • Differences between core only and fully greased ACSR
    • Influence of torsional and tensile testing on end of life estimates
  • Work underway to gather new data from members and continue analysis.
  • Launched supplemental project to aid collection and laboratory testing of field aged conductor and shield wire samples.

Task: New circuit & component level metrics
Task Description:

  • Develop & test data model to collect inspection & maintenance records & associate them with the underlying component & circuit (span, structure etc.).
  • Populate the data model with real world utility data to assess its applicability. Make changes based on experience.
  • Develop new circuit & component level metrics to better understand circuit & component performance.
    Update:
  • Developed a methodology to organize the raw data (demographic information e.g. material, age, component type etc., routine inspection records and corrective maintenance records) so that we can better understand the affected component, defect type and frequency for various circuits.
  • Work underway to test the method using one utility’s data (10 years of historical maintenance and inspection records)
    • Data model applicability
    • Develop metrics e.g., defect type, frequency, severity etc.

Task: Overhead transmission line risk assessment framework
Task description: Develop a framework that utilizes results of the above-mentioned efforts & helps utilities gain a holistic view of transmission line risk
Update:

  • Developed and published conceptual risk-based transmission line ranking approach that can be applied with readily available data.
  • We are looking for funder utilities interested in piloting this approach.

Engagement Opportunities

Meeting

Scheduled Date

Location

Information

EPRI R&D Kick off Webcast: Substations Asset Analytics Research Topic February 11, 11:00am - 12:00pm ET Webcast Meeting Material
EPRI R&D Kick Off Webcast: Overhead & Underground Transmission Asset Analytics Research Topic February 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm ET Webcast Meeting Material
Transmission Asset Management Analytics Task Force - March 2025 March 10-13 (In-person) / March17-20 (Virtual) Charlotte, NC Register Here
EPRI Transmission Asset Management Analytics (Program 34) New Supplemental Launch Webcast April 2 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET Webcast Webcast Information
EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: Substations Asset Analytics Research Topic (P34.002) May 20 11:00am - 12:00pm ET Webcast Webcast Information
EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: Overhead & Underground Transmission Asset Analytics Research Topic (P34.003 & P34.004) May 22 11:00am - 12:00pm ET Webcast Webcast Information

Anticipated Deliverables

Deliverable Date
Circuit Breaker Asset Management Analytics: Data Requirements, Family Groupings and Maintenance Taxonomy (Technical Update) December 2025
Actionable Insights Based on Analysis of Industrywide Circuit Breaker Data & Their Application in Procurement, Maintenance and Replacement Decisions (Technical Brief, Webcast and Results on TRC) December 2025
Computer Assisted Analytics to Categorize Circuit Breaker Maintenance Work Orders (Analytical Tool & Application Guide) December 2025
Circuit Breaker Risk Ranking Framework (Software & Application Guide) December 2025
Using Relay Event Data to Better Understand Breaker Operating Performance and Patterns (Technical Update & Webcast) December 2025
Actionable Insights Based on Analysis of Industrywide Power Transformer Data & Their Application in Procurement, Maintenance and Replacement Decisions (Technical Brief, Webcast and Results on TRC) December 2025
Power Transformer Expert System Software (Software & Application Guide) December 2025
Advanced Analytics for Power Transformer Condition Assessment (Technical Brief & Webcast) December 2025
Actionable Insights Based on Analysis of Industrywide Substation Battery Data & Their Application in Maintenance and Replacement Decisions (Technical Brief, Webcast and Results on TRC) December 2025
Evaluating the Efficacy of Substation Battery Monitoring to Help Utilities Reduce Response Time & Drive Condition Based Maintenance (Technical Brief & Webcast) December 2025
Asset Performance Metrics for Disconnect Switches and Capacitor Banks (Technical Update) December 2025
Protection and Control System Asset Management Metrics (Technical Update) December 2025
Development & Application of Analytical Approaches to Aid Allocation of Resources Across Substation Assets (Technical Update & Utility Information Exchange) December 2025
Developing an Analytical Framework to Capture Expert Knowledge that Can Aid Field Personnel in Maintenance and Troubleshooting (Technical Update & Webcasts) December 2025
Application of Natural Language Processing to Improve Substations Asset Management and Maintenance (Technical Update & Webcasts) December 2025

2024 Deliverables

Product ID#

Name

Type

3002029479

Overhead Transmission Asset Management Analytics – Data Requirements

Technical Update

3002029480

Transmission Wood Pole Fleet Management

Technical Update

3002029484

Transmission Line Risk Ranking Framework Development and Demonstration

Technical Update

3002029485

Actionable Insights from Analysis of Overhead Conductor and Shield Wire Data

Technical Brief

3002029486

Steel Structure Fleet Management

Technical Update

3002029487

Leveraging Geo-spatial Information in Overhead Transmission Asset Management

Technical Brief


For more information, contact: Bhavin Desai, Sr. Program Manager, (704) 804-1188,