Electricity is crucial for people rebuilding their lives after a disaster has struck. Lessons learned from the protracted power cut caused by Typhoon No. 15 must be used to quickly craft a system that enables electricity to be swiftly restored.
A panel of experts from the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry has released interim proposals regarding steps that were taken in response to massive blackouts the typhoon caused in Chiba Prefecture. The panel revealed a number of shortcomings, and this should steadily lead to improvements in how such situations are handled in the future.
The biggest problem was the delay in restoring electricity to some areas. According to the ministry, about 12 days was required until 99 percent of affected households had power again. This was at least twice the time needed to end the blackouts that Typhoon No. 21 caused in the Kinki region in September 2018.
Repeated changes in predictions about when power would be restored added to the confusion in Chiba Prefecture.
The panel said that the time taken for Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. to accurately gauge the extent of damage to the network was a major factor in the delay.
To overcome this problem, the panel said TEPCO will streamline its inspections through such means as using drones equipped with cameras. In cases where collecting information is difficult, the panel said TEPCO will attempt to predict when power will be restored by using past data, satellite images and artificial intelligence. TEPCO should try to quickly make such plans a reality.
It also cannot be denied that cooperation between the power company, local governments and the Self-Defense Forces was inadequate in some instances. TEPCO asked the SDF to do tasks such as remove fallen trees that caused outages, but this initially took time because the request was made through the Chiba prefectural government. This work sped up after TEPCO adjusted its approach and directly communicated with the SDF.
The process and order for conveying information should be decided in advance and training drills conducted to check these procedures.
Problems with the deployment of power supply trucks also have been highlighted. Given that these trucks supply electricity to vital facilities, including hospitals and evacuation centers, it is important that they are used precisely where they are most needed.
However, the utilization rate of the about 170 power supply trucks dispatched by other power companies reached only about 60 percent even at the peak period. This was because TEPCO was not fully prepared to accept and deploy these trucks.
TEPCO must establish a system that can centrally pinpoint the location of power supply trucks and places where they are needed. The panel's proposals suggested this system's operations should include use of the Global Positioning System.
Each utility has power supply trucks with differing specifications, and it has been pointed out this has hampered their use. The different tools, components and methods necessary to repair equipment reportedly tends to hinder the work of support staffers.
Cooperation between power companies is required when a major disaster strikes. Standardizing their specifications will be an issue to be addressed.
To prevent power cuts, it will become important to strengthen utility poles, pylons and other equipment, and to bury power lines underground so utility poles can be removed. However, doing so involves hefty costs and takes considerable time.
Ideally, electricity users also should make every possible preparation for outages, such as by bolstering private power generation equipment. The central government and local authorities should consider support measures including boosting subsidies for measures to counter power cuts.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 14, 2019)
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