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How ENERZA can enable utilities to save millions of dollars as a result of improper vegetation management

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Vegetation management is a significant contributor to power outages and can result in millions of dollars in losses for utilities and their customers. The cost of an outage can vary widely, with some estimates putting it at several thousand dollars per minute, and it can increase exponentially for large-scale outages that affect many customers over a wide area. According to Power Grid, vegetation management consistently ranks as one of the largest expenses in annual operational budgets, exceeding $100 million annually for many major utility providers. Vegetation management involves the strategic control and upkeep of plant growth, trees, and other greenery surrounding power lines and other components of electrical infrastructure. This encompasses the removal of trees and vegetation that pose risks to the reliability and safety of the power system. Within the realm of maintaining the electrical grid, vegetation management is an indispensable practice. Its primary objective is to prevent power outages stemming from the interaction between trees, plants, and power lines. Moreover, trees and other vegetation can inflict damage on power lines, leading to equipment failures, and they also present a significant fire hazard. For example, due to the fact Québec is known for its dense woods, which make up over half of its landmass, Hydro Québec maintains the vegetation near to the distribution system to prevent falling trees and branches from damaging the lines.
Techniques include pruning, removal, and replacement of trees and other vegetation. Pruning involves selectively cutting back branches and foliage to maintain a safe distance from power lines. Removal involves cutting down trees and other vegetation that pose a risk to the power system. Replacement involves planting new trees and other vegetation in appropriate locations, such as away from power lines. Another important aspect of vegetation management is monitoring and surveillance. This entails regular inspections of the power system aimed at spotting potential hazards, and employing both aerial and ground-based imaging techniques to pinpoint the growth of vegetation in proximity to power lines. Vegetation management stands as an ongoing process, necessitating consistent monitoring, inspection, and maintenance to uphold the dependable and safe operation of the power system. This process is intricate and necessitates effective coordination among diverse stakeholders, including utility companies, governmental bodies, and private property owners.
Furthermore, novel technologies like drones and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) are revolutionizing the monitoring of vegetation close to power lines for utilities. This facilitates a more accurate and streamlined assessment of potential hazards, enabling utilities to plan vegetation management endeavors more effectively.

Several primary challenges within vegetation management encompass:

  • Funding and Resources: The labor-intensive and costly nature of vegetation management can pose hurdles, with utilities grappling to secure the requisite funding and resources to carry out efficient vegetation management programs.
  • Coordination and Communication: Effective vegetation management hinges on harmonized efforts among various stakeholders, encompassing utilities, governments, and private property proprietors. Establishing seamless communication and coordination among these entities can prove to be a challenge.
  • Environmental Impact: Vegetation management holds the potential to significantly influence the environment, wildlife, and ecosystems. The unwarranted removal or pruning of vegetation can trigger adverse effects. To mitigate such impact, utilities are embracing an integrated vegetation management (IVM) approach, which amalgamates diverse management methods while accounting for environmental, social, and economic aspects.
  • Public Acceptance: Implementing vegetation management initiatives, particularly those involving the removal of trees or vegetation, can meet resistance from the public. Utilities must engage in public education and garner acceptance to effectively execute vegetation management programs.
  • Technological Hurdles: The integration and implementation of emerging technologies like drones and LiDAR are enhancing vegetation monitoring near power lines. Nonetheless, navigating the technical intricacies of adopting these technologies can pose challenges.
  • Weather and Natural Events: Weather conditions, encompassing heavy winds, storms, and natural incidents like wildfires, can inflict substantial damage upon power lines and electrical infrastructure, accentuating the complexity of vegetation management.

Even though vegetation management has it challenges, with proper vegetation management there are several benefits, including:

  • Improved reliability: Properly trimmed trees and vegetation near power lines can reduce the risk of outages caused by trees or branches falling on power lines.
  • Increased safety: Trimming trees near power lines helps to prevent dangerous electrical arcs and sparks that can pose a fire hazard.
  • Cost savings: By reducing the frequency and duration of outages, proper vegetation management can save utilities and their customers money on repair and restoration costs.
  • Improved aesthetics: Trimming trees and vegetation can enhance the appearance of the area and improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
  • Enhanced wildlife habitat: By managing vegetation in a responsible and sustainable manner, it is possible to maintain healthy ecosystems that support wildlife and other forms of biodiversity.
  • Increased energy efficiency: Trimming trees and vegetation can improve air flow and reduce wind resistance, which can lead to more efficient and effective power generation and distribution.
Unfortunately, even in the 21st century, utility companies are not taking the proper actions towards improving vegetation management. Vegetation management can be a costly process, and some utility companies may not have the necessary funds to invest in proper maintenance and management. The process requires skilled personnel, and some utility companies may not have enough workers to effectively manage the vegetation around their power lines. Utility companies could be missing out on possibilities and operating inefficiently if they don’t have a thorough vegetation management strategy in place. Proper vegetation management requires specialized equipment and technology, and some utilities might not have access to the newest equipment and technologies.
By combining aggregated Data, ENERZA enables utilities to have access to a user-friendly dashboard in which they can monitor grids health, asset and vegetation data. The on-wire data includes vegetation data (type of tree, soil, encroachment level), asset data (line health, equipment health) and asset inventory. ENERZA is able to increase efficiency for utilities by a minimum of 200 percent Combining on-wire data streams with advanced AI, ENERZA provides predictive to analytics to utilities that they can access via a dashboard in which they can monitor, plan and take proactive steps to ensure the reliability of their grid. Utility operating costs can be reduced by ENERZA by a factor of 220 times. ENERZA can also cut inspection costs by 200 times and the budget for vegetation control by 50%.
Overall, vegetation management is a crucial aspect of maintaining the reliability and safety of distribution grids. By implementing effective vegetation management strategies, utilities can help to prevent power outages and equipment failures, and ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to homes and businesses.
Sources:
https://www.aidash.com/covid-19-crisis-why-cutting-vegetation-management-costs-is-an-urgent-need/#:~:text=Reduce%20vegetation%20management%20costs%20by,annually%20in%20many%20larger%20utilities