Intren Background

CASE STUDY:  ComEd Programmatic URD Cable Replacement Project

 

Location 
Various locations throughout ComEd’s service territory

 

Stakeholders

  • ComEd Reliability
  • UtilX Corp.

 

Scope of Work

  • Provide all project management: work orders, scheduling, execution of work, and closeout of work orders for replacement.
  • Locate existing electrical cables.
  • Install new cable, either by directional boring or trenching.
  • Terminate and splice, perform switching and liven all new cable.
  • Replace, as necessary, existing equipment such as transformers, lightning arrestors, fault indicators and switchgears.
  • Obtain all permits.
  • Update equipment records in ComEd’s PassPort and CEGIS systems.

 

During the 4th quarter 2007, Intren partnered with UTILX Corporation to pilot a process to further rehabilitate poor-performing URD cables, reduce the unit costs per foot, and extend the reach of ComEd Reliabilities’ program budget. The successful pilot program resulted in 57 miles of URD cable and 8.7 miles of injected cables replaced.

 

ComEd then elected over the next several years to increase cable to be replaced and/or injected by the Reliability Group while continuing to have the Regions replace emergent and high-priority URD cable. 

 

 In 2008, ComEd decided to move from replacing individual URD cable segments to injecting or replacing cables from source fuse to normal opens, half loops. This would improve reliability for the entire half loop and result in greater savings per program mile. There were a total of 79 miles of cable replaced and 115 miles of cable injected during the year.

 

The 2009 program resulted in 117 miles of replacement and 80 miles of cable being injected.

As of the end of 2009. INTREN and UtilX had replaced or injected 457 miles of poor-performing cable on the ComEd system.
               
Unusual Challenges

  • Removal of cable replacement scope to address coordination between ComEd Reliability and Regional construction groups. 
  • Drive times and setup for program replacements increase non-productive time.
  • Switching delays arise because of cable faults and other configuration issues.
  • Equipment records are not all accurate or current.

 

Creative Solutions

  • Weekly meetings to review project performance, trends and action plans
  • Quarterly Vice President challenge meetings to review project performance and challenges
  • Scope walk downs prior to planning and scheduling work
  • Change in program from replacing individual cable segments to replacing or injecting on entire half loops
  • Merger of PM activities for cable faults and cable replacement
  • Creation of a single point of contact (SPOC) at ComEd’s Operations Center for switching routines
  • Expedited switching process for field crews
  • Expansion of URD programmatic project to include other URD replacements to take advantage of program savings

 

Project Start Date
February 2007

 

Project Completion
Ongoing