Hydro substation trespassing & thefts are an ongoing and serious issue across Canada, as power distribution companies, employees, and the people they serve grapple with the very real infrastructural, economic, and health & safety concerns these crimes create.
Hydro Substation thefts continue to power down local infrastructure.
With the rising prices of crucial materials like copper wire, thieves continue to seek out opportunities to strike at critical energized sites. Hydro substation theft in particular continues to be a major issue across Canada, and an ongoing threat to infrastructure, businesses, and individuals.
At face value, disruptions to the power grid can result in service interruptions for many customers within a given area, sometimes for very long periods while crews work to re-establish power. These disruptions also result in loss of revenue for the hydro companies themselves, as well as businesses in the area that require power to maintain operations. More seriously, there is a great risk of danger to the thieves who are stealing materials connected to live electricity, the dedicated crews who work to remedy the problem, and the public as a whole.
A recent example of a theft at hydro substation illustrates how these thefts truly impact the local population and economy: a thief made off with a significant amount of copper wire that then caused a major power outage affecting 11,000 hydro customers in Spryfield, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Power had to power down transformers & re-route power in order to conduct emergency repairs, and provide a safe environment for the crews to conduct their work – creating inconvenience to the crews, and lost production & operations at local businesses. (1)
Hydro companies are on high alert.
Many regional power distribution companies across Canada are on high alert after a series of substation attacks that have occurred in the United States, and companies like BC Hydro have stepped up their security measures as a result. In November 2022, a suspect in Washington State fired a small-calibre gun from outside the perimeter of a power station, striking a large transformer and causing an outage for 5,000 customers in the area. (2)
In Tacoma, WA, two suspects were charged after sabotaging four substations and leaving 14,000 customers without power. With the rise of these attacks in the neighbouring states to the south, BC Hydro has recognized their need to augment their security plans to prevent these attacks from happening at substations north of the border. (3)
The real dangers of Hydro Substation theft:
Along with causing power outages, these thefts create great risk to both personnel and public safety. Matt Drover, NS Power’s Senior Director of Transmission & Distribution Operations, stated, “Live wire can carry more than 25,000 volts of electricity so there is a very high risk of electrocution,” says Drover. “A charge from that wire would be life threatening or fatal for anyone in the vicinity and can cause significant damage to our equipment. Removing the wire can also generate an unstable electrical current for nearby customers and create dangerous working conditions for our crews.” (4)
Another recent and much more serious example proves how dangerous hydro substation thefts can be. A deceased man was found at a substation in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and Police suspect he was killed during an attempted copper wire theft. As live wire can carry more than 25,000 volts of electricity, unsafe handling of these wires can lead to fatal consequences. Not only is it extremely dangerous to the person committing the crime, it also creates an extremely volatile situation for repair crews – copper wire theft can generate unstable electrical currents that pose a dangerous threat to the people on site and nearby customers as well. (5)
Liability is also an important consideration, as these injuries and potential fatalities occur, local Distribution companies may be held responsible. The effects these thefts have on infrastructure and the economy are certainly tangible, but the potential effects on human life are even more important, when considering the health and safety of everyone involved.
How can we help secure hydro substations to prevent theft & safety risks?
1. First line measures to prevent trespassing and crime
Our first line of defense when providing security is the use of “No Trespassing” and “Video Surveillance Warning” signage that helps prevent crime in remote locations like hydro substations.
By letting potential criminals know that they are being monitored, we’ve created an initial deterrent to help prevent any crime from occurring in the first place.
2. Develop a wireless security environment
Since many hydro substations and similar properties are often in remote areas, a wireless Internet solution is required to provide the mandated level of security. All of our Video Security units operate using our proprietary Cellular LTE platform, instantly transmitting live video back to our UL Certified Remote Monitoring Facility. There is no need for wired Internet connections or local Ethernet infrastructure as they operate in a completely wireless environment.
We’ve developed & patented a method to provide high quality video without any additional charges in bandwidth, and each unit used in the security system operates independently – meaning in the event that one unit in the security system fails, the other units will stay operational to maintain this essential security.
3. Deploying a system that can operate reliably in a high-voltage environment
When dealing with high voltages, a security solution is needed that can handle the unpredictable nature of electricity. Each of our security units has been rigorously tested to confirm its efficacy in environments with high voltage and the noise interference that comes along with it. Our units have been inspected by CSA for compliance to SPE-1000 Field Evaluation for Electrical Equipment standards, which means that they are effective & reliable in a highly volatile, high voltage environment.
4. Establishing perimeter coverage
Hydro substations are complex sites that require a security solution that covers all the angles. Our proprietary Video Security Units can provide the necessary coverage to track and deter criminals from stealing important materials.
Our Video Security units are a marvel of modern security technology, standard equipped with two high-resolution stationary cameras that establish perimeter coverage – these can be mounted on a variety of vantage points to capture the entirety of the site. Combined with a high-resolution PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera to hone in on the action, they deliver a powerful security presence to proactively monitor hydro substations and prevent breaches.
5. Live video monitoring and proactive crime deterrence
The most effective way we proactively deter crime is through Live Remote Video Monitoring. The best method to prevent crime is to act before it occurs. Our Live Video Monitoring operators diligently monitor each site and use deterrents to ward off potential criminals.
Through the use of live and loud voice commands or by activating a bright strobe light, our team can alert trespassers that they’re being watched and deter them from taking any further action. If they continue to persist, our Operators will contact Police to attend the scene and apprehend the suspects, if necessary.
6. Implementing wireless alarms to monitor sea-cans and storage trailers
Our syncroDetect system provides another level of protection that can benefit sites like hydro substations. This premier intrusion alarm system acts as extension of our Video Security units– creating a formidable security presence for sensitive areas such as sea-cans and storage trailers. Sea-cans are often targeted for their important cargo, and an additional layer of protection is needed to deter criminals from striking.
Utilizing both door & window contact sensors and indoor motion detection sensors, syncroDetect can detect intrusions from up to 2 kilometers away and operates within the same Cellular structure as our Video Security Units. This is extremely beneficial for hydro substations that have many different zones that require complete coverage; this technology helps our team to proactively deter thieves from stealing important materials.
7. Health & Safety Protocols
When working on a hydro site, safety is paramount. Caliber’s installation technicians have extensive experience working on hydro locations, and specific training has been developed to ensure they are following all necessary safety procedures and protocols.
This includes wearing the required FR personal protective equipment and grounding all work trucks on site. Our diligence has resulted in no safety infractions so far to date, and we stay committed to ensuring specific health & safety processes are followed at all times.
8. Reporting and business intelligence
Through our proprietary reporting platform, syncroReports, it’s never been easier for our Hydro Security Specialists to see how our proactive security solutions maintain the level of security required to protect these critical sites. With full transparency, we provide data and insights from each site we monitor to keep everyone involved apprised of events that occurred on site, while providing immediate delivery of high quality images & raw video evidence for use in court proceedings, if & when required.
Theft from hydro substations is a serious & ongoing issue that requires careful consideration & attention for an effective preventative solution. Proactive security and video monitoring are an ideal solution to prevent and deter theft of materials, ensuring site & public safety, and protecting these critical infrastructure sites, their employees, and the businesses and individuals they serve.
Resources:
- “Copper theft leads to brief power outage for thousands in Halifax area”, Vernon Ramesar, CBC News, November 13, 2022
- “BC Hydro was on alert after U.S. substation attacks last year, FOI records show”, Bob Mackin, Business Intelligence for B.C., February 16, 2023
- “BC Hydro was on alert after U.S. substation attacks last year, FOI records show”, Bob Mackin, Business Intelligence for B.C., February 16, 2023
- “Nova Scotia Power warns of serious safety risks of copper wire thefts”, Nova Scotia Power, October 25, 2022
- “Death of man at Stellarton, N.S. power substation investigated as copper-wire theft attempt”, Rebecca Lau, Global News, February 7, 2023