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How Advanced Fault Detection Prevented Costly Outages

Company	Wake Electric Cooperative
Location	United States
Timeline	2024
Project Overview	Wake Electric Cooperative implemented Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® to enhance fault detection and improve reliability across its distribution network. The solution enabled precise location of hidden faults and real-time alerts, allowing the utility to respond quickly and prevent potentially costly outages and safety risks.
Products	Safegrid Intelligent Grid System®

This is a Safegrid Case Study.

Background

Wake Electric Cooperative manages a distribution network where environmental factors—such as vegetation—can pose risks to overhead lines. Faults caused by falling trees or debris often lead to temporary disturbances that may clear automatically, making them difficult to detect and assess using conventional systems.

To improve visibility and ensure timely intervention, Wake Electric deployed Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® to provide accurate fault detection and localization.

Challenge

Wake Electric faced a complex fault scenario:

A tree broke and struck an overhead primary wire
A recloser operated due to overcurrent, but the fault cleared quickly
The system returned to normal operation without indicating a persistent issue
Traditional methods may not have triggered further investigation
Legacy fault indicators only provided broad and unclear fault locations

This created a risk of leaving a hazardous condition undetected, potentially leading to more serious failures.

Solution

Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® detected an earth fault and immediately sent a real-time alert.

Key capabilities:

Precise fault location within 200 feet
Instant notification via email
Clear, actionable insights for field teams

Outcome:

Wake Electric dispatched personnel to the exact location
Field crews found the tree still hanging on the line
Comparison with the legacy system showed significantly less accurate results, with multiple possible locations

Safegrid’s precise detection enabled targeted action where traditional systems could not.

Benefits

The Safegrid solution delivered key advantages:

High-precision fault localization, reducing search time
Faster and more effective field response
Reduced reliance on less accurate legacy systems
Improved situational awareness and decision-making
Enhanced safety and risk prevention

Results

With Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System®, Wake Electric achieved:

Immediate detection and localization of the fault
Rapid identification and removal of a tree hazard on the line
Prevention of potential wildfire, outage, or equipment damage
Improved efficiency compared to legacy fault detection systems

Conclusion

This case demonstrates the critical value of precise, real-time fault detection in modern grid management. Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® enabled Wake Electric to identify and resolve a hidden hazard that could have led to a major outage or safety incident.

By providing accurate fault location and timely insights, Safegrid enhances both the reliability and safety of distribution networks, empowering utilities to act quickly, efficiently, and proactively in the face of complex fault scenarios.