Visual aids for substation monitoring and security control

Imatran Voima Oy owns 70% of the high-voltage (110-400 kV) network in Finland. The control of the network, substations and power plants is carried out via the System Control Centre in Vantaa and seven District Control Centres. All substations are unmanned, controlled by SCADA-systems and equipped with fire and intruder alarm systems. In the case of a fault or accident, a large amount of information is transferred to the control room. From this information it is very often difficult to make quick conclusions and decisions of present situation and how the situation is developing. One way of increasing the preparedness and efficiency in fault and emergency situations is to use remote video surveillance systems. A live picture from the unmanned substation is considered to be of great help in the security control and in certain operation tasks. The author describes the video surveillance system and its operation