System Operations

David Crockett
VP of System Operations

Reliability depends on maintenance. In maintaining the Big Rivers system, especially substation equipment and transmission lines, we work to minimize outage risks.

In 2009, as part of an ongoing maintenance program, transmission employees inspected and treated 4,220 poles and replaced 125. They treated 367 miles of right-of-way land with herbicide and performed a full-width cut on 108 miles. Employees also tested 29 circuit breakers and 24 transformers, as well as 72 substation and transmission line switches. An aerial inspection of our transmission system was completed four times.

Several construction projects were also completed in 2009. Upgrades were made to secondary containment at the Hardinsburg and Meade County substations, in accordance with the Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule from the EPA. Two transmission lines were relocated at the request of the Kentucky Department of Transportation, and a 69kV line and terminal were added in McCracken County.