Underground Cable Lifecycle Management

Throughout the country, electric utility infrastructure is comprised of millions of miles of underground power cable systems, many of which are decades old. And now, many utilities are  accelerating underground network initiatives to mitigate the damaging effects of increased severe storm events and overhead powerline fire risks  that may result in widespread power outages. Understanding the health of aging systems and mitigating risks during new system installation is crucial to their reliability and the communities they serve.

IMCORP®, an Osmose company, offers an extensive suite of cable lifecycle management services, including underground cable system commissioning, maintenance, and consulting. Our services are applicable to new and aged, medium and high voltage (5kV-500kV) power cable systems in these markets:

Transmission & Distribution Assets

It is imperative for transmission and distribution asset managers to balance reliable power delivery with the budgetary restraints necessary to keep rates at an acceptable level. Whether a new cable system is failing due to installation issues or a legacy cable system is at risk, our cable lifecycle management services optimize cable system performance at the lowest cost possible.

Renewable Energy Cable Collector Systems

As today’s “generation stations,” wind and solar farms own tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in assets spread across hundreds of acres. The underground cable collector grid that ties these wind turbines or solar arrays together is critical to their power delivery and profitability. 

As more utility companies seek methods to meet environmental goals, enhance financial stability, and comply with regulations, cable system reliability is a priority. IMCORP cable lifecycle management site commissioning services and existing site maintenance ensure system performance.

Mission Critical, Industrial, & Event Facilities

From hospitals to airports, government facilities, continuous process manufacturers, convention centers and arenas, facilities across the country require consistent and reliable power to operate effectively. To avoid unplanned outages or extensions of anticipated outages, our services accurately test cable systems to locate problematic areas, enabling the facility to proactively make repairs before a failure occurs. 

Factory Grade® Power Cable Scanning Technology

A comprehensive diagnostic assessment of an underground power cable system ensures the components will meet their expected design life. Using Factory Grade® Cable Scanning Technology by IMCORP®, an Osmose company, we test every individual foot of cable to manufacturer standards, meaning we energize the cable to power frequency to locate errors in manufacturing or installation. By identifying the presence or absence of defects within a specific cable section, we eliminate the time, resources, outages, and costs associated with unnecessary full cable replacement. 

Capitalization with Factory Grade

In 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered docket number AC09-27-000, qualifying the Factory Grade technology as an incurred cost to extend the cable’s useful life, and therefore, qualifying it for capital funding.

Learn about how IMCORP’s Factory Grade Technology helped one South Central region utility mitigate 28% of their underground cable system while saving 65% in rehabilitation costs, leading to a 98% outage reduction, capitalization qualification, and award-winning recognition for the project.