Module 11a Initiating Cause Code Form 4.X 1
M11 Initiating and Sustained Cause Codes An Initiating Cause Code that describes the initiating cause of the outage. A Sustained Cause Code that describes the cause that contributed to the longest duration of the outage. 2
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M11a Which Cause Code to Pick When analyzing event Examine each Element independently Ask Why did the interrupting device operate? Weather, excluding lightning Lightning Environmental Fire Contamination Foreign interference Vandalism, terrorism, malicious acts Vegetation 4 Human error Failed AC Substation equipment Failed Protection System equipment Failed AC Circuit equipment Failed DC Circuit equipment Failed AC/DC Terminal equipment Power system condition Unknown Other
M11a Example 1 A lightning strike on an AC Circuit. What is the Initiating Cause Code? A. Lightning B. Failed AC Circuit equipment C. Weather, excl. lightning D. Foreign interference Line A-B Station B 5
M11a Example 2 Ownership Change A lightning strike on an AC Circuit. What is the Initiating Cause Code? A. Lightning B. Failed Protection System equipment C. Foreign interference D. Other Line A-B Station B Standard Power Ownership Change Big 3 Electric Company 6
M11a Example 3 Customer Tap Fault A lightning strike on a circuit tap. What is the Initiating Cause Code? A. Lightning B. Power System Condition C. Foreign interference D. Environmental Line A-B Station B Standard Electric LOAD Ownership Change 7
M11a Example 4a A lightning strike on an AC Circuit Ask yourself, why did the breaker at Terminal X open? It opened because What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line A-X? A. Fire B. Lightning C. Failed AC Circuit Equipment D. Not TADS Reportable Station B Terminal X 8
M11a Example 4b A lightning strike on an AC Circuit Ask yourself, why did the breaker at Terminal X open? It opened because What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line X-B? A. Not TADS Reportable B. Failed Protection System Equipment C. Lightning D. Other Station B Terminal X 9
M11a Example 5a Underbuilt A sleeve failure occurs on an Line #1 and the conductor breaks and falls into underbuilt Line #2. What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line #1? A. Failed AC Circuit Equipment B. Not TADS Reportable C. Lightning D. Other Line #1 Station B Line #2 (Underbuilt) 10
M11a Example 5b Underbuilt A sleeve failure occurs on an Line #1 and the conductor breaks and falls into underbuilt Line #2. What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line #2? A. Foreign interference B. Lightning C. AC Circuit Equipment D. Not TADS reportable Line #1 Station B Line #2 (Underbuilt) 11
M11a Example 6a Underbuilt Line #1 (161-kV) was interrupted for 4 minutes during a storm with very high winds due to a Distributor s underbuilt conductor blowing into a guy wire. The guy wire was burned in two upon contact with the 13kv underbuilt. The wind blew the upper section of the lose guy wire into the 161KV TL causing the line to operate to lock out causing a four minute TL outage. What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line #1? A. Failed AC Circuit Equipment B. Other C. Weather, excl. lightning D. Foreign interference Line #1 Line #2 (Underbuilt) Station B 12
M11a Example 6b Underbuilt Line #1 (161-kV) was interrupted for 4 minutes during a storm with very high winds due to a Distributor s underbuilt conductor blowing into a guy wire. The guy wire was burned in two upon contact with the 13kv underbuilt. The wind blew the upper section of the lose guy wire into the 161KV TL causing the line to operate to lock out causing a four minute TL outage. What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line #2? A. Foreign interference B. Lightning C. Not TADS reportable D. Other Line #1 Line #2 (Underbuilt) Station B 13
M11a Example 7a Lines de-energized by fault on another line Lightning struck Line A-C and because of configuration, other lines became de-energized even though their breakers didn t operate: What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line A-C? A. Failed AC Circuit Equipment B. Lightning C. Unknown D. Power System Condition Line A-C TL-1 TL-2 TL-3 TL-4 Fault caused lines to become Deenergized due to abnormal system configuration Power System Condition Station C Automatic Outages caused by power system conditions such as instability, overload trip, out-of-step, abnormal voltage, abnormal frequency, or unique system configurations (e.g., an abnormal terminal configuration due to existing condition with one breaker already out of service). 14
Lightning struck Line A-C and because of configuration, other lines became de-energized even though their breakers didn t operate: What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line TL-1, TL-2, TL-3, and TL-4? Line A-C M11a Example 7b Lines de-energized by fault on another line TL-1 TL-2 TL-3 TL-4 Fault caused lines to become Deenergized due to abnormal system configuration A. Power System Condition B. Other C. Failed Protection System Equipment D. Lightning Power System Condition Station C Automatic Outages caused by power system conditions such as instability, overload trip, out-of-step, abnormal voltage, abnormal frequency, or unique system configurations (e.g., an abnormal terminal configuration due to existing condition with one breaker already out of service). 15
M11a Example 8a Breaker fails to clear fault Lightning struck Line A-C and a breaker failed to open due to breaker issue. What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line A-C? TL-1 A. Lightning B. Failed Protection System Equipment C. Failed AC Circuit Equipment D. Failed Substation Equipment TL-2 Line A-C TL-3 Failed to open for fault due to breaker issue Station C TL-4 16
M11a Example 8b Breaker fails to clear fault Lightning struck Line A-C and a breaker failed to open due to breaker issue. What is the Initiating Cause Code for TL-1, TL-2, TL-3? TL-1 A. Other B. Lightning C. Weather, excl. lightning D. Failed Substation Equipment TL-2 Line A-C TL-3 Failed to open for fault due to breaker issue Station C TL-4 17
M11a Example 9 Potential Transformer A Potential Transformer catastrophically fails causing bus fault. What is the Initiating Cause Code for all lines? TL-1 A. Failed AC Circuit Equipment B. Failed Protection System Equipment C. Failed AC Substation Equipment D. Power System Condition TL-2 Line A-C TL-3 TL-4 Station C 18
M11a Example 10 Potential Transformer Failed line capacitor voltage transformer (CCVT or CVT) secondary fails causing voltage loss to relay What is the Initiating Cause Code for all lines? TL-1 A. Failed AC Circuit Equipment B. Failed Protection System Equipment C. Failed AC Substation Equipment D. Power System Condition TL-2 Station D Line D-E TL-3 TL-4 Station E 19
M11a Example 11 Non-BES Faults Lightning strikes 69-kV bus What is the Initiating Cause Code for all lines? TL-1 A. Lightning B. Other C. Failed AC Substation Equipment D. Foreign interference TL-2 Line A-C 230-kV TL-3 69-kV TL-4 Station C 20
M11a Example 12 Non-BES Faults Breaker fails to clear fault on 69-kV system Again, ask yourself why did the breaker for the Element open? What is the Initiating Cause Code for Line D-E? A. Other B. Failed AC Circuit Equipment C. Failed AC Substation Equipment D. Failed Protection System Equipment TL-1 TL-2 Station D Line D-E 230-kV TL-3 69-kV TL-4 Station E 21
M11a Vegetation (Exceptions) Vegetation Exceptions (as contained in FAC-003-1) Outside the right of way that result from natural disasters. Examples include: Human or Animal activity. Examples include: Earthquakes Fires Tornados Hurricanes Landslides Wind shear Major storms as defined either by the TO or an applicable regulatory body Ice storms Floods Logging Animal severing tree Vehicle contact with tree Arboricultural activities Horticultural activities Agricultural activities Removal or digging of vegetation Outages that fall under the exclusions should be reported under another Cause Code and not the Vegetation Cause Code. 22
M11a Human Error: Automatic Outage Interruptions with Faults Examples Human Error: Automatic Outages caused by any incorrect action traceable to employees and/or contractors for companies operating, maintaining, and/or providing assistance to the Transmission Owner will be identified and reported in this category. Line A-B Station B Human Error Automatic Outage Examples 23 Electrician hangs ground on wrong (energized) line. Contractor cuts tree into energized line. Company or contractor bucket-truck contacts line. Not Human Error Examples Employee flying a kite on his day off and it contacts 230-kV line is NOT Human Error (Foreign Interference). Customer or distribution company bucket truck contacts line (Foreign Interference).
M11a Human Error: Automatic Outage Protection System; No Fault Examples Line A-B has lightning strike and the Line B-C relay overtrips for fault on another line due to: Wrong settings, Wiring error, or Switch in wrong position Line A-B would have an initiating cause of Lightning and Line B-C would have an initiating cause of Human Error Line A-B Line B-C Station B Station C 24
M11a Human Error: Operational Outage These are reported on Form 6.1 (or 6.3): During planned switching, electrician operates wrong handle. Work plan was wrong Electrician didn t correctly follow work plan Someone bumps a relay in the switch house During relay testing, accidently trips line Dispatcher remotely opens wrong breaker Electrician shorts out wiring behind panel while working 25