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ESB NETWORKS LTD

Aug/Sept 2011 www.esb.ie/em

Sustainability Update

The actively retired ESB Land Rover at a BHAA race meeting.

New life for retired vehicle

HAVE YOU EVER wondered where ESB vehicles end up when they retire? Well, the Business Houses Athletic Association (BHAA) has given an old ESB all-terrain vehicle a new lease of life by taking it out of retirement and putting it back into active service. The idea was the brainchild of Charlie Cronin of ESB Telecoms. Charlie, who was the Chairman of the BHAA at the time, approached Fleet & Equipment and arranged for the retired Land Rover to be donated to the BHAA.

The vehicle was specially adapted and fitted with a gantry to allow it to be used as a mobile office and a focal point at BHAA road races and cross country events. For instance, the vehicle is normally positioned at the starting and finishing points at races as a mobile admin office and is also used for public announcements, commentating and providing music. It is also used for transporting valuable equipment used at races such as stakes, tapes, banners, speakers, clocks and much more.

The vehicle has been of fantastic benefit to the BHAA, which is a small sports organisation. Such has been the success of the initiative, other worthy organisations such as Athletic Association of Ireland and St Johns Ambulance have approached Charlie with a view to getting their own similar ex-ESB vehicles.

This is another great example of innovative thinking, an opportunity to re-use and recycle retired vehicles, while at the same time, allowing ESB Networks supports the wider community in a very sustainable manner.

Mid Year Sustainability Performance update

Now that the half way point of 2011 has been reached, it is timely to reflect and consider the progress being made against some of the 2011 sustainability targets. At the end of June, performance can be summarised as follows:

• Overall CO2 emissions are down 22% on the 2006 baseline.
• The kWh electricity consumption in Networks buildings is down 13% on the same period 2010, with CO2 emissions down almost 31% on the 2006 baseline. A 13% reduction in 2011 would deliver an annual saving of close to €200,000.
• The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) recycling rate stands at 64%, up almost 7% on the 2010 year end outcome, with 30 depots exceeding the 2011 target of 65%.
• General waste tonnage is down 41% on the same period in 2010.
• Fuel consumption is down 4% on the same period in 2010. A 10% reduction in 2011 would deliver an annual saving of approx €635,000.
• Electronic water monitoring equipment (Pulse Output Units and Data Loggers) have been installed in 31 Networks depots
• Use of MyMeeting@esb (Webex), the web conferencing and on line meeting facility, has increased 250% on the same period in 2010.

Overall an excellent performance all round.

Sub-station break-in incidents and metal theft: a major problem for ESB Networks

Damage caused to Clashmore 38kV station, included copper being removed and a major oil spill.

SINCE THE SUMMER of 2009, there has been a major increase in the number of break-ins at HV sub-stations. These break-ins are predominantly associated with the theft of copper, aluminium, steel and cast iron. Oil has also been stolen. The theft of copper is most prevalent, due to its value of approximately €7,000 per tonne. In 2009, there were 41 recorded incidents. In 2010 this figure rose to 231, that is, approximately five per week. In the first six months of 2011, there have been 91 recorded incidents.

These break-ins have major safety, cost and continuity of supply implications. They also result in environmental damage due to indiscriminate dumping of transformer oil and they cause delays to construction programmes due to the theft of key materials.

In 2010, there was one fatality when an intruder cut a live 10,000 volt cable, and two near-misses that resulted in serious injury to the intruders following contact with live high voltage equipment. During a break-in in June 2011, intruders climbed over the screens on a 38,000 volt transformer cubicle to steal copper cable with a scrap value of less than €100. Public safety has been compromised due to fences being cut and locks being removed from gates, resulting in easy access to high voltage compounds. Fixed station copper earth cables, which are required for the safe operation of the MV and HV networks, have been removed from in-service equipment. These copper earth cables are required to ensure that circuits are isolated and that dangers to the public are removed in the event of a fault. The theft of copper earths associated with isolation of sections of networks for work purposes has put ESB Networks staff and contractors at risk.

A new development in 2011 has been the theft of overhead networks, with 5,250 metres of copper conductor was removed from pole tops in Belmullet and Rathmullen. In Cork city, five live poles were pulled down to steal 600metres of copper. Transformers have been removed from poles in the Curragh and in Ferbane, in close proximity to live 20,000 volt network. The safety of members of the public and ESB Networks staff responding to ‘no supply’ calls has been compromised in these instances.

Direct criminal damage in 2010 cost €2.6 million. This figure could be exceeded in 2011, as one incident in Cashla 220kV station alone resulted in costs of €450,000. This comprised of €200,000 for the replacement of the transformers and €250,000 in environmental clean-up costs, associated with the oil spillage during the raid - a very high price for a theft which would have netted about €20,000. Furthermore, the rise in criminal activity at substations has led to the need for the installation of monitored security systems during all construction work, which has significantly increased construction costs.

In response to this criminal activity, ESB Networks has:

• Created a singular reporting e-mail address for the reporting of all break-ins and thefts at assetsecurity@esb.ie;
• Identified vulnerable MV Indoor substations for extra security checks;
• Installed a power fence at Kilbarry 110kV station, as featured in EM June/July 2011;
• Instigated the formation of a Utilities Alliance Group with Eircom, Vodafone, Veolia, Irish Rail and BT, with a view to influencing legislative changes governing the sale of scrap metal;
• Featured in a section on metal theft in RTE’s Crimecall programme on the 21st June 2011 and 535,000 people viewed this programme;
• Met regularly with An Garda Siochána, at both national and local level;
• Implemented the practice of reporting all break-ins and thefts to An Garda Siochána; This has resulted in heightened awareness within An Garda Siochána of the problem of metal theft for ESB Networks and the detection, apprehension and successful prosecution of criminals involved in sub-station break-ins in various locations throughout the country.

ESB staff members can contribute to the on-going campaign against sub-station break-ins and metal theft, by being constantly alert and vigilant when in the vicinity of electrical installations, whether sub-stations or overhead networks. Any suspicious activity, damaged boundary fences or gates left open at unattended substations should be reported to the local HV station supervisor or to the local Gardaí. Together we can help reduce the major safety risks and high costs being incurred by ESB Networks as a result of criminal activity involving substation break-ins and metal theft.

This is why you should not steal copper from High Voltage Installations - burns to a person who came into contact with 22,000 Volts in the UK.