Quality=recoverability: the power equation

Bell Atlantic´s Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Companies have created a review program to assess the quality of power system engineering, installation, and maintenance and the ability of the power equipment to function in emergency situations. The program has evolved into two divisions: the power systems engineering and operational review and the quality assurance review. Key elements of the program are based on existing practices and the pragmatic knowledge of the people conducting the review. Both reviews are an intensive examination of a power system´s engineering arrangements and operational capability. Each review is conducted by a team of representatives from the power engineering, building design engineering (electrical), and switching maintenance disciplines. In addition to the core members, most review teams include selected central office personnel, an equipment mechanic, and an electrician. The review program has provided benefits in these key areas: (1) identification of potential service failure conditions, (2) containment of costs/realization of savings, and (3) collection and dissemination of information. These and other benefits of the program, including exchange of data on needs and concerns among the three disciplines, are examined.<>