SEC's Power Connection

May Newsletter, Issue 8

SEC Working to Increase System

Reliability off the Moran Substation

Your SEC line crews have been working diligently to increase system reliability off the Moran Substation in Rice. The conductor replacement project was identified in SEC's 2021-2024 Construction Work Plan. The project will upgrade the aging copper conductor to a higher capacity aluminum conductor to ensure that the Cooperative is able to meet current and future energy needs of those members served by Moran Substation in Prince Edward, Amelia and Nottoway counties.

The project will also improve lightning protection, relocate several difficult-to-access line sections and provide better switching capabilities to speed outage restoration efforts in the area.

Your Cooperative is committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable power to our members-owners!

Transformer Recovery

With the material supply challenges impacting the utility sector, Southside Electric Cooperative has looked for ways to use the material and equipment it has to ensure being able to provide service to its members. Transformers have been one of the most difficult pieces of equipment in which to maintain an adequate supply.

SEC identified supply challenges as a potential issue in spring of 2021, before lead times started growing. SEC’s Operations Department developed a list of available transformers in its own system that were installed but not actively providing service to members in the fall of 2021.

Why were the transformers never used in their original location? Vice President of Engineering and Operations George Felts says, “In some cases, the transformers were installed and used for some period of time, and then the member no longer needed the service. In other cases, the transformers were set to serve new subdivisions that never filled due to various factors, including the slowing demand in those developments.”

In 2022, SEC began the plan to recover 87 units. This planning allowed SEC to maintain a safe level of inventory, which avoided delays in new service installations.

The cost and time savings to SEC have been substantial.

For more information on SEC's Transformer Recovery, visit the May edition of Cooperative Living by clicking HERE.

How Would You Like to Become a Lineworker?

On Thursday, April 20^th, the Power Line Worker Training Program (PLW) celebrated its 500^th graduate at Pickett Park inside Fort Barfoot in Blackstone. Southside Virginia Community College launched the PLW program in 2016 with the support of Southside Electric Cooperative, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, Nottoway County and from a state grant.

The physically demanding program is designed to graduate both young men and women armed with the necessary skills to enter the electrical lineworker trade. Graduates are prepared to provide safe and reliable electricity.

“The Power Line Worker Training Program has provided a regional pipeline of lineworkers that has benefited Southside Virginia and Southside Electric Cooperative,” said SEC President and CEO Jason Loehr. “Approximately 25% of SEC’s lineworkers graduated from this rewarding program. SEC, the electric utility industry and the Commonwealth of Virginia have been rewarded with the school’s positive impact, and we look forward to its continued growth.”

SEC's President and CEO Jason Loehr (left) and Governmental and Regulatory Affairs Director Lloyd Lenhart (right) are photographed above in attendance at the Power Line Worker Training Program graduation.

May is Electrical Safety Month

An average of 346,800 home fires occur every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Electrical issues (either failure or malfunction) account for 46,700 of those fires. It is important to be familiar with what most commonly causes these fires, what the warning signs are and how to best prevent them from happening.

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Crewe, VA 23930

Member Services: 1-800-552-2118

Outage Reporting: 1-866-878-5514