PPL Electric Utilities wins safety award from Southeastern Electric Exchange

PPL Electric Utilities won the Southeastern Electric Exchange (SEE) Chairman’s Award for its technology that automatically cuts power to downed power lines.

PPL Electric Utilities was honored by SEE for its Automatic De-energization of Downed Conductors (ADDC) technology, which was recognized as the winner of the safety category.

“Nothing is more important than engineering a safe grid for our workers, customers, and the public,” PPL Electric Utilities President Steph Raymond said. “We have built upon existing technology and infrastructure to add groundbreaking new features that automatically detect and respond to live downed conductors. The initiative is part of PPL’s continued efforts to innovate for a safer, smarter, more reliable future.”

PPL engineers were able to develop this new advanced technology on nearly two-thirds of its distribution grid. With over 2,300 grid devices programmed with downed wire alarming and 1,500 devices able to cut power to downed lines, PPL has substantially decreased the odds that such an event would create a potentially harmful situation.

PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corp., provides electric delivery service to more than 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania.

SEE is a non-profit association of investor-owned utilities in 22 states. It was established to promote the common interests and growth of its members, develop and enhance the resources of member companies, and provide coordination of storm restoration services to impacted members.