Enhancing reliability through high-voltage pole top reclosers
As data centers and other large loads place new demands on the grid, utilities face growing pressure to connect new customers while controlling infrastructure costs. This project demonstrates that high-voltage pole top reclosers are a viable lower-cost alternative to substation upgrades.
Challenge
An investor-owned utility that serves 3.6 million customers in the mid-Atlantic region needed a new way to accommodate growing interconnection demand while maintaining reliability and controlling infrastructure costs. Because traditional approaches can require significant substation investment, the utility sought to pilot an alternative using transmission-level pole top reclosers. The design standards and protection philosophy needed to support this application, however, had not yet been established.
Solution
To help the utility pilot a first-of-its-kind transmission-level pole top recloser program, our engineers collaborated closely with the utility's commissioning team and relay specialists to develop the protection settings, communication standards, and overall approach needed for successful implementation.
We worked with the utility to establish relay standards and protection schemes and support commissioning activities. This work helped establish the design and protection framework for deploying 69 kV Viper reclosers, creating a consistent implementation approach and laying the foundation for broader deployment across the utility's transmission system.
Results
ICF's support helped the utility establish protection and communication standards for transmission-level Viper deployments, creating a repeatable framework for future engineering and commissioning efforts. By tailoring relay settings to the unique characteristics of individual transmission lines, the utility gained a more consistent approach for implementing high-voltage pole top reclosers across its system.
The resulting standards reduce the engineering effort required for future deployments and support more consistent implementation across vendors and transmission assets.
The pilot also created a foundation for broader use of transmission-level pole top reclosers as utilities seek cost-effective ways to accommodate growing interconnection demand while maintaining grid reliability.