Overview & Events
Project Description
Live work—work on energized circuits—is the performance of maintenance, construction, or testing on equipment and circuits that are energized or that might become energized. Work on energized lines is an important alternative in cases where it is difficult to obtain line outages. In some cases, live work is necessary and unavoidable, such as when stringing over or under energized circuits or adjacent to parallel energized circuits. Work on de-energized lines still faces hazards that include step-touch-transfer and induced voltages that need to be mitigated. Live work on energized or de-energized lines must be performed by qualified and well-trained workers to safely avoid the risk of injury or fatality to the worker and/or general public.
Research Value
- Improved public and worker safety
- Improved worker technical performance
- Improved reliability of electric service
- Help to understand and manage risk
- A technical basis for sound decision making
- Maintain or lower life-cycle costs, which can keep electric rates affordable
Member Benefits
- Offer guidance on the development of safe and effective work practices to enhance worker and worksite safety for live-line and de-energized work.
- Provide guidance on laboratory testing, development, and assessment of new or emerging live working tools and equipment.
- Research advanced technologies that could be applicable to live work, such as robotics, sensors, artificial intelligence, and real-time position tracking technologies.
- Promote technical understanding and knowledge by means of reference guides, computer-based training, webcasts, conferences, educational videos, and software, enhancing the competencies of all stakeholders engaged in live work.
Key Activities for 2024
Evaluation of AC Voltage Detectors – When conducting deenergized maintenance, it is important that line workers verify that there is no voltage on the line being worked on. Devices known as voltage detectors are used to determine if there is a voltage on the line. This task intends to identify the commercially available ac voltage detectors and conduct tests to evaluate their performance. In 2024, results from the testing of commercially available detectors are intended to be presented in a report.
Live Working Reference Guide (Tan Book) – This is a comprehensive technical resource on live working, including de-energized work, North American and international standards, and fundamentals and principles related to live working tools, equipment, methods, and training resources. The guide is designed to be used by utility personnel engaged in all aspects of live work, from transmission maintenance managers and supervisors to line workers. A new version of the guide is published each year including new or reviewed content based on input from project members.
Live Working Rope Testing and Evaluation – Dielectric ropes are used in Live Work along with rigid insulating tools. Currently available live working ropes have several advantages and disadvantages. An updated research plan intends to evaluate electrical and mechanical performance of new rope designs coming to market as well as aged ropes provided by utilities. Testing will be performed according to existing standards, but also based on “real-world” exposure. In 2024, a technical update detailing results of electrical and mechanical wear testing of new ropes and fall arresters is intended to be completed.
Temporary Protective Grounding Rating Calculator – A calculator to determine the size of temporary protective ground cables is intended to be developed. This calculator is envisioned to be a simple tool that enables utility personnel to quickly calculate the appropriate temporary protective ground cable size.
Minimum Approach Distance Calculator (Software) – This desktop software tool calculates and illustrates the minimum approach distance (MAD) for phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase clearances based on IEEE 516 and IEC 61472 formulae for utility-specific structures using line components and dimensions for that specific structure’s location. In 2024, the new software interface is expected to be updated with realistic features. In addition, a calculator to determine the minimum number of healthy ceramic insulators for live line work is anticipated to be incorporated.
Understanding Insulating Tool Flashovers at Normal AC Voltages – This is a multi-year task to support and complement Industry and member problem solving efforts related to past Industry insulating tool flashovers at normal ac system voltages by developing and performing laboratory tests based on new hypotheses and/or models in order to evaluate them as a viable flashover mechanism. This research is part of a broader research effort that intends to investigate degradation and failure modes of insulating tools, research new materials to enhance tool performance, develop/search for new tool testing and inspection technologies, and develop reference and training materials that enhance worker safety in the use, inspection, testing, and care of insulating tools used in live work. In 2024, the “Insulating Tools Flashover Incidents” report is intended to be updated with a 345 kV flashover incident.
Finite Element Modeling of Insulating Tool Flashover under 60 Hz – This task is part of a broader research effort that intends to investigate degradation and failure modes of FRP insulating tools. It consists of the development, verification, and parametric analysis of a Finite Element Model of an anomalous insulating tool flashover incident. In 2024, preliminary results from a Finite Difference Time Domain modeling (FDTD) are intended to be presented in a report.
Conductive Suit Evaluation – This task aims to update and expand the investigation of conductive suits performed in . it seeks to verify electrical performance of conductive suits available on the market, including shielding efficiency, current carrying capacity, and electric resistance degradation due to washing cycles. In 2024, EPRI intend to initiate the investigation and test conductive suits from two manufacturers.
Engagement Opportunities
| Meeting | Date | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Working Task Force | February 19-22 (In-person) February 26-29 (Virtual) |
Charlotte, NC | Meeting Materials |
| EPRI R&D Information Exchange Webcast: Conductive Suits (P35.010) | April 2, 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET | Webcast | Meeting Materials |
| EPRI R&D Project Update Webcast: P35.010 Live Working | May 21 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET |
Webcast | |
| Overhead Transmission 2024 ARP Rollout #1 | June 12 11:00 am - 12:30 pm ET |
Webcast | Add to calendar |
| Overhead Transmission 2024 ARP Rollout #2 | July 16 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET |
Webcast | Add to calendar |
| Live Working Task Force | August 19-22 (In-person) August 26-29 (Virtual) |
Charlotte, NC | Register here |
| EPRI End of Year Webcast: P35.010 Live Working | November 27 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET |
Webcast |