Electric grid complex of Moscow region prepares for flood flow. The journalists have been demonstrated how it is carried out

On March 22, 2011 “Moscow United Electric Grid Company” performed media tour devoted to preparation for the flood flow in Kolomensky and Lukhovitsky areas of Moscow Region.

The Deputy Technical Director for distribution grids of JSC “MOESK” Andrey Miridonov, Chief Engineer of the branch of “Moscow United Electric grid Company” - Eastern Electric Grids - Viktor Kalganov, Head of Lukhovitsky Distribution Zone Vladimir Vakulenko, managers of the urban settlement Beloomut and Beloomut area of Lukhovitsky Distribution Zone, journalists of the regional, federal printed media and television channels took part in the event.

According to the information received by the journalists at a briefing in Kolomensky Distribution Zone from the Deputy Technical Director for distribution grids of “MOESK” Andrey Miridonov, this year there are eight districts with the threat of flood in the Moscow area: "Districts with the most probability of JSC “MOESK” objects water-logging are located in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the Moscow area. They are Stupinsky, Serpukhovsky, Kashirsky, Serebryano-Prudsky, Lukhovitsky, Kolomensky, Orekhovo-Zuevsky and Pavlovo-Posadsky districts", - he said.

More than 500 objects of JSC “MOESK” fall into a zone of possible water-logging during the period of 2011 spring flood. As Andrey Miridonov said, it is expected that in 2011 the height of water in basins of Moscow area "will not be more than annual average value, however, there is risk of the objects water-logging".

As to the company’s data, in “Northern Electric Grids” responsibility area 12 substations (SS) 35-220 kV, three overhead power transmission lines (OL) 35-220 kV, 24 OL 10 kV and 59 transformer stations (TS) 6-10 kV can get into water-logging zone. In “Western Electric Grids” responsibility area - 18 SS and 46 OL 35-220 kV, 32 OL 10 kV and 42 TS 6-10 kV. In the responsibility area of “Southern Electric Grids” - 19 SS and 84 OL 35-220 kV, 26 OL 10 kV, 48 TS 6-10 kV. In the responsibility area of “Eastern Electric Grids” – 21 SS and 24 OL 35-220 kV, 47 OL 10 kV, 46 TS 6-10 kV.

According to the Deputy Technical Director of “MOESK”, the most careful attention is paid to the water-logging situation created in the responsibility area of “Eastern Electric Grids”, specifically in Lukhovitsky and Kolomensky districts. Several tens of major power facilities – feeding centres 35-110 kV, high-voltage electric power transmission lines, in distribution grids – feeders and transformer substations - can get into zone of possible water-logging. The planned inspections of power grid facilities are carried out and twenty-four hour service and flood situation monitoring are arranged. The company’s personnel is ready for passage of flood and provided with all required equipment.

“The winter period events impacted on preparation for coping with emergency situations. The moral was drawn in respect of the personnel training and works arrangement. In addition, we enlarged a number of diesel-run power plants for prompt power system operation restoration”, - he said.

The journalists became familiar with preparation of power grid facilities for coming flood just on site of Beloomutsky area of Lukhovitsky Distribution Zone.

“15 people work in our area, 11 human settlements are in our service, five of which get into zone of water-logging. Therefore, prior to the flooding we should walk around and look over each of such settlements”, - told Galina Morozova, the supervisor of Beloomutsky area of Lukhovitsky Distribution Zone to the journalists.

It is presumably expected that the flooding will begin since April 15. The area’s specialists have been preparing in advance for possible consequences: the operating personnel has already been transferred to day-and night duty, nine units of special vehicles have been put into operation. Such units include snow and swamp-going vehicle "Kerzhak", which in case of a human settlement flooding is able to overcome snow and water obstacles and delivers the field service team to the place of disturbance.

The close interaction with authorities of the Russian Emergency Ministry and local administration has been established. The First Deputy Head of the urban settlement Beloomut, Alexander Panov, noted that the flood preparation work has a systematical character. Annually an emergency response centre is established which includes representatives of organizations being in charge of the town’s sustainment, and a whole complex of taken measures allows to pass the flood peak avoiding emergencies.