[LINK] Aerial vs underground Cabling....Re: NBN and Batteries

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Last year, Energy Australia (electricity) upgraded the
aerial cabling, in my street, to Aluminium - which is
more robust, according to the sparky incharge.

Energy Australia are now burying cables or at least
conduits in Annandale's streets, possibly as part of
the Sydney CBD smart grid project:
> *   Building a new communications platform - 
> EnergyAustralia has rolled out 800 kilometres of new fibre 
> optic cables, installed hundreds of communications switches 
> and deployed carrier-grade Internet Protocol (IP) technology 
> to connect more than 200 key substations and depots.
> 
>       This telecommunications backbone is the foundation for a smart grid. It will provide many benefits including greater equipment monitoring and control, allowing better decision-making and earlier fault detection and repair.
<http://www.energyaustralia.com.au/Common/Network-Supply-and-Services/Network-projects/Smart-grid-projects/Smart-grid-facts.aspx>

At the NBNCo customer forum - there was a remark about rock
being a problem in the Illawara pilot. This has been echoed
in my street, when digging came to a stop with the call "Rock".

I seem to recall, that the underground cables melted in the
Canberra Bushfires. While trying to find a reference, I came
across this:
> Powerlines
> 
> Recommendation 27
> 
> The State amend the Regulations under Victoria?s Electricity Safety Act 1998 and otherwise take such steps as may be required to give effect to the following:
> 
> * the progressive replacement of all SWER (single-wire earth return) power lines in Victoria with aerial bundled cable, underground cabling or other technology that delivers greatly reduced bushfire risk. The replacement program should be completed in the areas of highest bushfire risk within 10 years and should continue in areas of lower bushfire risk as the lines reach the end of their engineering lives
> 
> * the progressive replacement of all 22-kilovolt distribution feeders with aerial bundled cable, underground cabling or other technology that delivers greatly reduced bushfire risk as the feeders reach the end of their engineering lives. Priority should be given to distribution feeders in the areas of highest bushfire risk.
> 
> We observe that Western Power is already replacing some SWER lines with aerial bundled cable. However, the program appears to concentrate on areas where maintenance of SWER lines was due anyway. The priority does not appear to be given to areas of greatest risk, such as the Perth Hills region.
<http://bushfirefront.com.au/opinion/general-fire-management-issues>

And in the papers on Friday 29 December 1911:
> The Mayor of the Glebe, Alderman Artlett, presided. The  Lord Mayor, Sir Allen Taylor, the town clerk, and the electrical engineer of the City Council were present to represent the City Council, which is supplying the current. Mr. Lukey (secretary) represented the Australian Gaslight Company, which has lighted the Glebe for many years, and Is still to continue the contract for all streets outside the main thoroughfares...
<http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15299202>

Marghanita

David Boxall wrote:
> On 1/03/2011 9:03 AM, Richard Archer wrote:
>> ...
>> If the aerial cables are likely to be down during an
>> emergency, there is no point having a battery backup.
>>
>> I would also hope that the NBNCo decide to install
>> cables exclusively underground in cyclone/bushfire
>> prone areas and aerially only in "safe" areas.
>> Or would that be too much to expect?
>> ...
> <rant>
> Overhead cabling is a waste of resources. The only reason for it is to 
> maximise the number of premises connected by fibre, in the minimum time.
> 
> Why is the copper underground? Because it's most cost-effective. Why put 
> the fibre overhead? Because it's quick.
> 
> If we didn't have a raving ratbag leading the opposition, intent on 
> trashing the nation's communications infrastructure, perhaps we'd be 
> better placed to do it as well as we can.
> </rant>
> 


-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://ramin.com.au
Tel: 0414-869202