Substations are an important part of the power distribution system. This is where the power is converted to the low-voltage electricity that homes and businesses use, and they should be constantly monitored in order to ensure a fast and correct response to any fault or emergency.

Most consumers are blissfully unaware that the strain on the power grid has never been bigger. Consumption is exceeding supply in many parts of the world, resulting in power shortages. Substations run at maximum capacity while utility companies are under great pressure to deliver 100% uptime and excellent service quality.

However, substations are not only threatened by technological limitations. Theft of power and copper are increasing problems in many countries, and it’s costing dearly.

Substations are located in highly populated as well as very remote areas. They are widely distributed, and some utility companies have several hundred substations in their area. Many have already installed substation automation, enabling remote monitoring of the site and gathering valuable information that shortens downtime and improves stability. But in order to fully monitor their sites, the utility companies need to be there – if not physically, then through a lens.

At Amplex, we couple our substation automation solution, StartGrid™, with video surveillance. In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of copper and power theft instances. High-resolution video complements the raw data from substation automation with a visual component that ensures that we know about any intrusion as it happens. It might be a child accidentally entering the substation, it might be a utility worker forgetting to sign in for access, or it might be illegal intrusion.

At an Amplex installation in Asia, an intrusion alarm is received on our field tool app.

With an intrusion alarm, the utility can pinpoint the location and time of the incident and thereby:

• Prevent theft of power or copper
• Avert accidents involving intruders
• Save costs for manpower
• Detect smoke – decreasing the risk of fires
• Minimize downtime
• Identify the intruder for any legal proceedings