A major electrical disruption detected by Whisker Labs’ sensors has raised concerns about the stability of California’s electrical grid, with potential implications for a devastating wildfire that ravaged the Altadena community.
A major electrical disruption along transmission lines near Altadena and Eaton Canyon was detected by Whisker Labs’ network of sensors at 6:11 p.m. on January 7th. This event was so powerful that it reverberated as far away as Oregon and Utah, across tens of thousands of sensors.
According to Bob Marshall, co-founder and chief executive of Whisker Labs, ‘This is a transmission-scale event. Any time something happens on the grid and we see a fault at exactly the same time on many, many sensors, then it is a fault on the utility grid.‘ The faults at 6:10 p.m. and again at 6:11 p.m. coincided with two flashes in the vicinity of the transmission lines seen in a video captured by a camera at an Arco gas station in the moments before the Eaton fire began, followed by flames near the base of high-voltage transmission towers.
Whisker Labs’ data does not provide conclusive evidence about how a wildfire began. However, it could play a pivotal role in helping to determine the cause of the Eaton fire. The combined data from eyewitness accounts, cellphone video, and Whisker Labs’ sensors has focused attention on a transmission line owned by Southern California Edison.
Edison has not conceded that its equipment caused the Eaton fire but is conducting an investigation and meeting with Whisker Labs representatives to review their findings.
Electrical equipment — transmission lines in particular — has been the source of some of the most devastating wildfires in California and across the country. Fires caused by utility equipment have increased the risk and economic vulnerability for power providers as extreme weather driven by climate change has challenged the nation’s aging electrical infrastructure.
Electrical infrastructure refers to the network of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems that supply electricity to homes, businesses, and industries.
It includes power plants, substations, transmission lines, distribution lines, and transformers.
The reliability and efficiency of electrical infrastructure are crucial for economic growth, public health, and safety.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity demand is projected to increase by 30% by 2025, highlighting the need for robust and modern electrical infrastructure.
In 2018, a live wire broke free from a 100-year-old transmission tower in high winds and sparked the Camp fire, which killed scores of people and destroyed the town of Paradise in Northern California. The Camp fire and a series of other blazes led California’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, to file for bankruptcy in 2019 and institute wildfire prevention measures as extreme weather conditions have become more persistent.
A finding that Edison’s electrical equipment caused the Eaton fire could have important implications for the victims of the Eaton fire, who are seeking compensation for their losses. More than a dozen lawyers have filed lawsuits against Edison, arguing that mounting evidence points to the utility’s equipment as the source of the fire that devastated the Altadena community.
The threat that electrical equipment poses to life and property has led energy and safety experts to push for power lines to be buried underground and for wider use of technologies that can better detect problems on the grid. ‘We can’t insure our way out of this problem,’ said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford University. ‘We have to reduce risk.‘
Energy and safety experts work together to minimize risks associated with energy production, transmission, and consumption.
They develop guidelines for safe practices, conduct risk assessments, and implement emergency response plans.
According to the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, electrical accidents account for over 50% of all workplace fatalities.
Energy and safety experts also focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy sources.
Electrical equipment refers to devices and systems that use electricity to perform a specific function.
This includes appliances, machinery, and tools used in various industries such as manufacturing, construction, and healthcare.
According to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), electrical equipment accounts for over 50% of global energy consumption.
The most common types of electrical equipment include motors, generators, transformers, and circuit breakers.
Regular maintenance and inspection are crucial to ensure safe and efficient operation.
