When spring arrives, the leaves are on our trees, the flowers are blooming in our yards and, more often than we would like, the power is out in our homes.
An Ameren Illinois lineman inspects a newly installed IntelliRupter before it goes into operation. This type of IntelliRupter was installed in three different locations in Collinsville. / Photo courtesy of Ameren Illinois
To combat the power of nature that sometimes leave us powerless, Ameren Illinois is installing new technology and improving its infrastructure. This is part of the company’s $3.5 billion five-year plan to improve the infrastructure of its natural gas and electric delivery systems.
In Collinsville, $135,000 has already been spent on the installation of three new IntelliRupters. Also known as smart switches, the remotely controlled devices help reduce the number of people affected by an outage.
Brian Bretsch, a communications executive at Ameren Illinois, said these smart switches are a new technology that can detect a power outage.
“We are able to sense condition changes on our lines,” Bretsch said. “The IntelliRupter works with other equipment on the system to route power in ways that minimize the number of customers hit by an outage.”
The new switches, which are installed in clusters of three, are located on Beltline Road behind Kohl’s, on Vandalia Street near the entrance to the Orchard Shopping Center and on Amanda Street.
According to Bretsch, these IntelliRupters, as well as the others that have been installed around Illinois, prevented an additional 31,000 hours of power disruptions last year.
“It was able to talk back and forth with the other equipment, hurry up and isolate a problem, and it was able to work with the other equipment to get [power restored],” Bretsch said.
Bretsch said there is a distribution control group monitoring Ameren Illinois’ system constantly. When an outage or problem is detected, a message is sent by the IntelliRupters to this group, who will contact dispatch to send crews out to address the issue.
“[Customers are] seeing minimal disruption in their service,” Bretsch said. “It helps us pinpoint where the problem is on the line. We’re able to switch and get everyone back on except that problem area.”
Ameren Illinois installed 27 IntelliRupters in 2012, 12 in 2013 and has plans to install 93 more in 2014.
Bretsch said as the company continues to make improvements to its infrastructure, more smart switches will be installed.
“Over the next several years in Collinsville, Caseyville and Maryville, we will be spending a substantial amount of money,” Bretsch said. “As you see Ameren Illinois line trucks and gas trucks in the area, know that we’re doing our due diligence to improve the natural gas and electric infrastructure in the area.”
