[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Israel Electric Company (IEC) technicians are exercising procedures that are synonymous with winter, repairing outages caused by inclement weather. In the photos and accompanying video one sees how technicians work to bypass problematic high-voltage lines in conditions when access is blocked or limited.

Different training scenarios include preparing technicians for inclement weather as getting high-voltage lines up and running is critical to the national infrastructure. Training also includes routine maintenance which calls for periodic replacement and upgrading of equipment, which is a regular component of the utility’s operations.

The utility company has a modular ERS (Emergency Restoration System) system, which enables establishing bypass routes in the event the primary system is compromised. Technicians from the Jerusalem district are seen taking part in the training exercises along with colleagues from the southern and northern districts. Needless to say their efforts are considerably complicated when performing such tasks in a storm or other difficult conditions.

IEC officials explain this is part of the utility’s ongoing efforts to meet the challenges as the nation’s supplier of electricity amid a realization the grid must remain operational at all times.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)