

Customer
AEP
Location
Mount Sterling, Ohio
Highlights
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Transmission Work Halted Due to Distribution Failures
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Field Verification Triggered Immediate Escalation
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Now a Training Example for Infrastructure Interdependence
When Distribution Fails Impact Transmission: How Field Verification Averted a Hazard During T-Line Removal in Mount Sterling
The Challenge
- A rotten cross arm supporting a live distribution conductor
- Insulators near detachment from the compromised arm
- A secondary wire draped over a guy wire, creating unplanned contact and possible clearance violations
The Solution
- Took photographic documentation of all observed failures
- Paused the work plan to prevent any engagement near compromised structures
- Notified AEP Distribution personnel, ensuring the issue was escalated to the correct operational team for repair coordination
- Delayed the T-line removal until site conditions were restored to safe and stable operating standards
Key Benefits
- Hazard Avoidance: Prevented potential conductor drops, structure collapse, or conductor contact during removal activities
- Infrastructure Coordination: Highlighted the importance of synchronizing Transmission and Distribution readiness before joint or overlapping work
- Field Safety Protocol Enforcement: Showed how field leads proactively halt work when third-party infrastructure poses a threat
- Improved Documentation: Captured photographic evidence for follow-up, repair planning, and future audits
- Work Continuity Planning: Ensured that once the issues were resolved, the project could resume without further surprises or escalations
The Results
- No incidents occurred, and the issue was resolved without damage to property or risk to personnel
- The distribution team responded promptly after receiving clear documentation and location details
- The event is now used as an example in internal training on infrastructure interdependence and field readiness verification