After you’ve constructed a power substation, how do you safeguard that investment?

Substations are commonly located in remote areas, making them even more susceptible to malicious activity and accidents. Safety and security breaches at a substation can be extremely costly—and even deadly.

Threats to Substations

Common threats to substations include:

• Copper theft
  Thieves will go to great lengths to steal this valuable metal. Since copper is used in critical elements of a substation, copper theft can cause downtime and expensive repairs. Thieves also put themselves in great danger, accessing high-voltage areas with bolt cutters that could clip an active wire.
• Malicious attacks
  Snipers and hackers have attacked substations with gunfire and cyber terrorism. These incidents have caused government agencies to emphasize the importance of protecting our nation’s infrastructure and power grid.
• Wildlife
  Birds of prey such as eagles and osprey like to build their nests on tall structures. When these nests are built on substations, the birds are at risk of harming themselves and causing power outages. It requires the cooperation of wildlife officials and utility personnel to safely remove the nests, which can be up to 3 feet wide.

Layered Substation Security

Delta specializes in not only constructing substations, but also in safeguarding them. We recommend that substations have at least:

• Outer perimeter security
• Inner perimeter security
• Cyber security

Relying on a chain link fence and padlock to secure your substation isn’t enough protection in today’s digital world. We use technology such as video analytics, outdoor motion sensors, and radar. Contact us to learn more about securing your substation.