A new study offers leading practices on resilience for utilities
Southern California Gas Company recently released a study that looks at how utilities and communities across the country can be better prepared for disasters.
The study, conducted for SoCalGas by global consulting firm ICF, investigated damage and disruptions in the energy and transportation sectors caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, last October’s Northern California wildfires and the December 2017 wildfires and subsequent mudslides in Southern California.
The report reveals examples of resilience and key practices by various utilities, drawing from utility and state energy department reports, interviews recounting firsthand observations, and other sources.
“Over the last year, we’ve seen severe weather conditions and natural disasters ravage the country, impacting thousands of people. More than ever before, it’s important that we work to address the growing risks that energy utilities face, so that we can be better prepared in the future,” George Minter, regional vice president of external affairs and environmental strategy for SoCalGas, told American Gas.
Overall, the study echoed other studies, including one commissioned by the Natural Gas Council, finding that because natural gas infrastructure is underground, it is relatively resistant to hurricanes, flooding and wildfires, making it less vulnerable to natural disasters.
“Pipelines remained online, providing gas service to local customers, until they were either voluntarily shut off for safety reasons or shut off automatically when sensors inside the pipeline sensed a drop in pressure,” Minter said. “In addition, CNG and LNG remained online and were actually able to fuel mass transit and response vehicles in Texas and California with no shortages or price fluctuations.”
The value of satellite and drone image analysis was also highlighted in the report, as it can pinpoint damage to infrastructure when physical access is limited and speed up response in the time-critical hours following an event.
The study also found that backup generation powered by natural gas pipelines was a key component to maintaining normal operations at critical facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, schools and grocery stores, Minter said.
Enhanced cross-training exercises between utilities and emergency response personnel can help communities prepare for successful disaster response, the study concluded.
“Ultimately, our hope is that this study will help inform planning efforts for stronger energy systems not just in California, but across the country,” Minter said.