Massachusetts power lines get sensors that spot failing equipment before the lights go out

A utility company is equipping some power lines in one Massachusetts city with a new accessory. 

Two circuits in the community are getting sensors to catch warning signs before outages occur on circuits that have struggled with reliability.

Here's what to know

Following a Worcester Central Region review of lower-performing circuits, the utility company National Grid is placing Early Fault Detection sensors on two circuits in Leominster, according to the Sentinel & Enterprise. The aim is to give crews a chance to fix developing problems before service is interrupted.

Instead of waiting for an outage to occur and for customers to report it, the utility says the devices can keep constant watch for early signs of trouble. Those signs can include equipment wear, circuit phase issues, vegetation getting too close, and other conditions that may affect reliability.

"Early Fault Detection sensors give us another way to identify potential equipment problems before they become outages," John Franklin, National Grid's vice president for network management, told the Sentinel & Enterprise.

"That means crews can make repairs before customers lose power, improving our customers' experience in the communities we serve."

More background

For National Grid customers, the expected result is fewer outages overall and shorter ones when problems do happen.

Company officials said the sensors are part of a push to modernize the electric grid through smarter investments intended to benefit customers.

As a National Grid press release put it, the sensors "also [help] shift work from emergency response to planned maintenance. That means crews can address issues before they become larger, more expensive problems, improving reliability while helping manage costs."

Where can I learn more?

These stories cover utilities, researchers, and grid operators trying a range of tools to spot problems earlier and keep power flowing:

• In Massachusetts, Eversource created a rapid-deployment utility pole to restore service faster after major storms.

• Across the U.S., the North American Electric Reliability Corporation has warned summer outage risks are rising as demand and weather intensify.

• Power officials say massive data centers are putting new strain on grids not built for them.

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