Electric sector changes safety technology for transmission systems

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, said this Tuesday (17), that the acts of vandalism that resulted in the overthrow and damage to energy transmission towers will, as a consequence, modernize the security of the transmission system. of electricity in the country. The vandals responsible for the attacks will face “a vigorous response and punishment” from the government, the minister said.

Silveira made the statement after meeting with members of the task force created to prevent and punish attacks on the system. According to the minister, so far there has been no damage to the electrical system as a result of the attacks. “The situation is under control, and actions are being taken, and everything that can be done by the public authorities will be done vigorously.”

According to the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), so far, there are records of four towers knocked down (3 in Rondônia and 1 in Paraná) and 12 damaged (4 in Paraná, 2 in São Paulo and 6 in Rondônia).

“The companies are acting on the detected faults, and the events are being monitored and inspected by the Agency. It is important to clarify that there was no interruption in the supply of energy transmission due to these occurrences”, informed Aneel.

At today’s meeting of the task force – with representatives from the electricity sector, the Federal and Federal Highway Police, as well as members of Aneel and the National Electric System Operator – some preventive actions were defined to avoid further actions by vandals.

Actions such as special inspections on the lines are foreseen, especially at road and railroad crossings; installation of surveillance cameras; and reinforcement of patrolling. “We discussed some fundamental questions for the modernization of the security of the national transmission system”, said the minister.

Silveira recalled that it is the consumer who pays for the entire transmission system and the electricity sector and that, therefore, it is “everyone’s heritage”. According to the minister, there is “great good will on the part of all players to adopt the most modern instruments”, such as cameras and drones, to be used not only by companies, but by intelligence and surveillance activities.

In this sense, the group’s idea is to increasingly improve the electrical system and the safety of transmission lines, especially those that have greater dialogue with the National Interconnected System. The events, therefore, represent “an opportunity to advance in the security of these assets”, including on the part of the companies that manage the electricity sector, added the minister.