CORE continuously evaluates the design, equipment and construction standards of our system. We have updated those standards to both increase reliability in the system and “harden” it against wildfires.
Some of the standards we refined to reduce possible fire ignition and spread include:
• Pole strength, so that poles can better withstand high wind and other weather conditions;
• Increased spacing between conductors and shortened distances between poles to prevent different-phased lines from crossing;
• Underground placement of new and upgraded equipment in high-risk fire areas, when practical;
• Additional insulation of energized parts, so that birds and other animals cannot make contact and cause sparking;
• Elimination of specific types of wire and equipment connections that may be more prone to fail; and
• Replacement of some oil devices with devices that do not use oil.