MGE is No. 1 for electric system reliability
MGE's proactive approach to reliability results in a national No.1 ranking. MGE works hard to provide reliable electric service—and that effort is paying off. MGE earned the top spot for electric system reliability in the U.S. for the:
• Frequency of customer interruptions.
• Average minutes of interruption.
These are the results of a national survey of 2007 data (the most recent year survey results are available).
"Achieving the No. 1 position is a result of meticulous planning and our proactive approach to electric reliability," said Dave Blankenheim, MGE director - Operations Support. "In 2007, we experienced spring flooding and a snowy winter—and our electric system made it through beautifully."
Approach is key
Year after year, MGE scores among the top utilities in the country. The company's reliability group helps drive that achievement. The group meets monthly to review activity, analyze it and act, if needed. "It comes down to the fact that we really pay attention—examining each outage to pinpoint causes and catch minor glitches before they become major problems," Blankenheim said.
"We have been installing specialized equipment on poles throughout our system," Blankenheim said. "If something goes wrong, this protective equipment will briefly interrupt the system and reenergize it. Without this protection, we would experience more customer outages."
Other efforts that keep MGE's electric system strong include:
• Specialized processes for checking substations before they come online and after major maintenance.
• An organized cable replacement effort.
• Several voltage conversion projects where aging transformers and poles are replaced.
• Programs for inspecting MGE equipment and updating it when needed.
"Our electric system is in excellent shape," Blankenheim added. "We focus on keeping it in this condition so businesses have the electricity they rely on to operate each day."
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