Overhead distribution resiliency study recommends reclosers, data cleanup and phased program to reduce outage impacts

Consultants from Burns & McDonnell's 1898 practice presented the results of an overhead distribution resiliency study to the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee on May 28, recommending a phased program of near-term device deployments and a longer-term enterprise program to improve reliability.

Michael Cody of 1898 told the committee the study analyzed Austin Energy's 5,000 miles of remaining overhead distribution and recommended an approach that emphasizes targeted infrastructure replacement and sectionalization rather than full undergrounding. "We identified over 600 mainline reclosers and over a thousand lateral reclosers, which gives Austin Energy options," Cody said. Reclosers are devices that can isolate faults on a feeder and reduce the number of customers who lose power during an incident.

The consulting team performed…