POWERGRAMS

With its Blink ads, the company is sharing with customers how its smart grid technology restores electricity – almost instantly – after a problem on a line. If the clock on your stove blinks, that's proof Alabama Power's outage prevention technology is fast at work. Power Delivery Data Analytics Managers David Boyd and David Huffstutler said the company's Fault Isolation and Service Restoration (FISR) technology has prevented more than 1 million customers from experiencing sustained outages since 2019. Statewide, Alabama Power has installed 8,100 devices that automatically open, close and isolate any fault on its electric system. The company added more capabilities to its outage management and distribution management systems, allowing FISR's oversight of the network distribution system. FISR continuously monitors the company grid. FISR locates outages, identifies a faulted section of line, isolates the outage and redirects power. This hugely limits the number of customers impacted during an outage. "This year, FISR has picked up 440,000 customers in an outage – that's 750 individual cases of trouble we've restored automatically without human intervention or human interaction," Boyd said. "For instance, when a car hits a pole, it used to take human interaction to isolate and restore service to some of the customers affected. With FISR enabled across the system, this is now an automated and almost immediate process." FISR is critical in situations the company can't control: a car hitting a pole or extreme weather. These events can cause short circuits or faults on the grid – massive overloads that can damage the electric system and result in outages. "Thanks to FISR, we are reducing areas that need to be evaluated, resulting in quicker assessments by field personnel," Huffstutler said. Self-healing system at work When a customer sees a blink on the system and the lights come back on, that's evidence the system worked to restore itself and minimize the outage. "If FISR can find a solution, it will self- heal in under two minutes," Huffstutler said. "Obviously, two minutes is enough time for all the clocks in your house to reset. So, if a customer comes back to a blinking clock, it doesn't always mean the power has been out for a substantial amount of time. It could have been a quick restoration from FISR." Alabama Power has heightened system resiliency and enabled self-healing by adding numerous electronic sectionalizing devices that create smaller groups of outage "chunks" – instead of 500 customers having an outage, for instance, there are 200. These investments are an important part in providing customers with reliable service. By Donna Cope 1 More than 60 attendees – employees, retirees and leadership – gathered at Plant Greene County July 17 to honor the facility's legacy of service. The plant, which began commercial operation on June 10, 1965, celebrated 60 years of reliability. Celebratory efforts were led by Maintenance Manager Jennifer Cassity. Everyone enjoyed a meal of Southern favorites, including fried fish, fried chicken and a large sheet cake that filled half a table. Everyone received a branded Tervis cup, a custom tote bag and an oversized umbrella. Plant Manager Wyatt Williams addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of "purpose, partnership and pride" in fueling Greene County's success throughout the past six decades. "Today is about fellowship and celebrating everyone who has contributed to our success over the years," Williams said. Senior Production Officer and Senior Vice President Brandon Dillard followed with a heartfelt message of gratitude. "It's an honor to be here today, and my message is simple: thank you. Greene County is steady and consistent, and the investment you all have made in yourselves and in this plant leaves a lasting legacy of reliability and safety." Throughout the afternoon, attendees shared stories and memories, connecting the past with the present. Retirees shared past challenges and achievements, inspiring current employees with their dedication. The event highlighted the spirit and commitment of those who have successfully led the plant's operation. Plant Greene County stands ready to continue powering the future with the same dedication that has sustained the facility and its employees for the past 60 years. By Greg Ward 1 Plant Greene County celebrates 60 years of operation generation update Blink ... THE OUTAGE IS OVER The plant has a lasting legacy of reliability and safety. (Wynter Byrd) Thanks to its investments in grid technology, Alabama Power's electric system can help prevent an outage. Photo by Phil Free

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