Power resupply means and live works: two complementary ways of reducing power cuts for works

Power system resupply means make use of live-line working techniques since optimum use requires live connection to the network, in MV or in LV. Therefore, such techniques result in a quantitative increase in the number of operations carried out live at low voltage. Connecting resupply means on-load requires live electrical operations, such as putting voltages in phase, two LV networks in parallel and synchronization between power networks with different frequencies, all which must be done by qualified and specially trained personnel. Therefore, qualitatively, improved conventional live-line working techniques are required. As such, the authors argue that resupply means should be considered as complementary to, rather than competing with, live-line working. In such a scheme, the operator knows that there is a complete range of means available to him to prevent power cuts and he is free to choose the most suitable means while optimizing costs