This case involves a house that sustained significant damage during Hurricane Sandy, allegedly due to the actions of the power company and its procedures. An appraisal valued the house at $800,000. The plaintiff’s house was partially submerged during a flood caused by the hurricane, and the area lost power for several weeks. In attempting to restore power to the home after the FEMA cleanup teams had done their best to mitigate the damage, the utility company failed to assess the viability of the homeowner’s primary lines, resulting in a massive explosion. The plaintiff alleged that this activity was negligent and directly resulted in extra damage to the home.

It is proper for a utility company to restore outages to groups of customers (main lines, feeders, reclosers, sectionalizers, fuses, etc.) before working on outages that only affect individual customers. We can discuss this in more detail depending on the circumstances of your case because there are a plethora of reasons behind this. In general, utilities will gather data from SCADA systems, their outage management system, 911 calls, customer calls, etc. and will dispatch restoration personnel to the highest priority issues, which is typically in this order: 1. 911 calls where a threat to the public is deemed to exist; 2. for major events such as hurricanes; facilities required to protect the health and welfare of the public (hospitals, water treatment, sewer, etc) 3. large customer-count outages (feeders, reclosers, etc.); 4. smaller customer-count outages (sectionalizers, fuses, transformers); individual customer outages (transformers serving only one house, services, inside trouble, etc.). I have worked for over thirty years in the electric utility industry and I have restored electric service as a lineman, an engineer, and as a manager/ director of multiple service dispatch centers. In addition to hands-on involvement and management of routine storm restoration, I have written storm restoration procedures for major storm events, and have developed storm support services for a utility contractor. I also possess a degree in electrical engineering. All of the above considered, Hurricane Sandy was an exceptional storm and additional measures needed to be taken for all restoration activities.

1. After a major storm or flood, what steps should a utility company take to restore power and is it necessary to assess the viability of lines prior to restoring power?

Location: GA B.S., Auburn University M.B.A., Florida Institute of Technology New Energy Graduate Program, Duke University, Fuqua School of Business Former M****** E***** D*********** F****** P**** C********** Former D******* o* E********** O********* a** R********** F****** P**** C********** Former V*** P******** B******* D********** O***** U****** S******* Former G****** M****** C****** R***** P******* E***** Current V************* O********* a* m**** u****** s******* c******

This qualified expert has worked for over 30 years in the electric utility industry and has restored electric service as a lineman working for Central Alabama Elec Co-op, as an engineer for Florida Power Corp, as a manager of multiple service dispatch centers for Florida Power Corp charged with storm restoration, and as the Director of the Hurricane Restoration Center for Florida Power Corp. In addition to hands on involvement and management of routine storm restoration, he has written storm restoration procedures for major storm events, been involved in the EEI Mutual Assistance Committee (for sharing resources following major events such as hurricanes, ice storms, etc.), and has developed storm support services for a utility contractor. He also possesses an Electrical Engineering degree and an MBA.

Public Utility Causes Additional Damage Post Hurricane Sandy

This communications law case involves an employee of a local telecommunications company in Texas who was fatally electrocuted by a negligently placed power line. At the time of the incident in question, the man was working on coaxial cable used by his company to provide broadband internet services to customers. At some point, the man’s partner observed a massive arc flash, after which he was thrown to the ground from the bucket of a cherry picker. The man was killed instantly. It was later discovered that power lines hung from the same poles that carried the coaxial cable had allegedly been installed too low, creating a dangerous condition for anyone working on the coaxial lines.

I am a certified journeymen lineman who worked for both contractors involved here. My duties included working primary and secondary conductors. My final days as a lineman before moving on to management was as a Service Representative, where I was responsible for all the power installation and maintenance needs of four towns in in my state. My initial thoughts centered on whether the distance between the power line and communication cable existed based on state requirements. That is, when I worked as a lineman I had responsibility for maintaining distances in four towns. I was always "looking up" for questionable clearance issues. Any clearances issues were attended to asap. Another thought was the training of the communication employee. Like tree trimmers who work around power lines, they are required to have proper training regarding working in "primary areas". Primary areas refer to voltages that are usually several thousand volts whereas secondary voltage refers to voltage typically in the hundreds of volts.

1. Please briefly describe your experience doing overhead/aerial construction or repair of communication cables. 2. Can you speak to what a utility construction subcontractor does to ensure the lines are not over-tensioned? 3. Have you ever served as an expert on a similar case? If so, please explain. 4. Have you ever been sued or arrested?

Location: MN BS, Business Management, Southwest State University MBA, University of Dubuque EdD, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Former L****** M******** L**** 9** Former A****** M****** B***** S***** E******* Former D******* C******* R******** R******** P***** U******** Former P******** A********** o* E***** S******* P************ Former M****** R********** a** C********* S******* I********* P**** C****** Current P******** & O**** a* e********* u****** c********* f***

Southwest

Texas

This highly qualified expert is currently the president and owner of an electrical utility and safety consulting firm. He has formerly held many leadership roles in the electrical energy space including serving as manager of residential and commercial services at Interstate Power Company, municipal utility director at Rochester Public Utilities, and as president of the Association of Energy Services Professionals. He has extensive public speaking experience for national and regional audiences including the National Electrical Contractors Association, the American Public Power Association, the Minnesota Municipal Power Association, the Minnesota Engineers Leadership Institute, and the Iowa Professional Engineers Association. He has authored more than 5 publications in his field and is the co-inventor of a patented hybrid geothermal heat pump and fuel cell system.

Telecommunications Worker Suffers Fatal Injuries From Electrical Shock

This case involves a fatal electrocution accident involving a team of utility workers who were tasked with repairing a downed power line. At the time of the incident in question, the crew had been dispatched by the utility company to repair a power line that had been brought down when a strong storm caused a utility pole to snap. The crew was informed that power to the line had been cut off, and therefore approached the power line as if it was not live. However, the utility company failed to turn off power to the line, causing the crew to suffer severe electrical injuries, resulting in the death of one of the workers.

In this case, the utility should have been on the scene and before the work began, the power should have been de-energized and grounded. In addition, the contractor should have requested the line be de-energized prior to starting their work. This would have made the lines safe to work on. When a pole is severely damaged the pole cannot be trusted to hold the strain necessary to support the lines and the first precaution should be to de-energize the lines prior to placing anyone working on the lines or pole where there will be changes in the stress of the pole. I have reviewed several cases that involved a broken pole that resulted in injuries, usually involving poles falling with the lineman climbing them. This case is unusual since the lines are typically de-energized and grounded prior to working on damaged poles.

1. Please describe your experience working for an electrical utility in a maintenance and operation capacity. 2. What are the proper steps and protocols on the electric company's end that are required when linemen are actively working on a utility pole undergoing repair?

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Public Utility Causes Additional Damage Post Hurricane Sandy

Telecommunications Worker Suffers Fatal Injuries From Electrical Shock

Electrical Engineering Expert Opines on Electrocution of Utility Worker

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