Hydro substations are easy targets for thieves looking to steal copper wire and other assets, often leaving hydro providers and their customers reeling. How can proactive security help protect these properties from hydro theft?
Hydro theft is a serious and dangerous issue.
Across the country, theft at hydro substations continues to be an issue as thieves target valuable wire and materials to make a quick profit. These thefts not only have infrastructural and economical impact, they also pose a significant safety to risk to the criminals themselves, as well as employees who work for power distribution companies, and the public at large. Theft of copper wire from the power grid can also lead to power disruptions that affect thousands of people and businesses, with some outages lasting hours or even days as crews make repairs. There are also major liability issues at play as hydro companies may be held responsible if a thief becomes injured on their energized sites.
Brazen hydro theft incidents continue across Canada.
In November 2023, over 5,000 hydro customers in Kingston, ON lost power after a brazen hydro theft. The thief vandalized the property and stole a small amount of grounding copper wire. It took several hours for repair crews to re-establish power for customers in the area. (1)
In February 2024, Toronto Police sought eight suspects who stole $300,000 worth of industrial copper cable from a downtown electrical station. The thieves used four separate vehicles over two days to carry out the theft, and wore construction vests to appear like they belonged on the property. Police are unsure how they gained access to the site, but there were no apparent preventative measures in place to secure the materials. (2)
In June 2024, thieves broke into a hydro site in Chapel Arm, Newfoundland and stole copper wire connected to energized, high-voltage equipment. The thieves cut a hole in the perimeter fence to gain access to the site and then proceeded to damage valuable equipment while dismantling the wire. Utilities companies in the area have spoken publically that there is an alarming increase in the number of break-ins at high-voltage facilities. (3)
The dangers of hydro substation theft are clear.
Theft at hydro substations is extremely dangerous, and the criminals involved in the incidents mentioned above were lucky they didn’t incur serious injury.
After the incident in Chapel Arm, Newfoundland Labrador Hydro issued a very stern warning to thieves and vandals striking at their sites – highlighting the dangerous risks of substation copper theft. One of the main dangers is the removal of electrical grounding, an essential part of the protection system. Grounding drains away unwanted buildup of electrical charges and reduces the risk of electric shock. When the grounding is removed, it creates a volatile and dangerous situation not only for the thief committing the crime, but for substation repair crews, and the public as well. (4)
During the theft incident in Kingston, ON in November 2023, the thieves caused “electrical arcing” – when electricity jumps from one connection another, which is an extremely dangerous electrical phenomenon. By creating such dangerous conditions, the thieves put themselves and many others at risk. They were extremely lucky they didn’t incur injury, or even worse, death. (5)
How can proactive security help deter theft at hydro substations?
How do we help deter hydro theft?
Artificial Intelligence is the next generation of proactive detection
Artificial intelligence is making waves across many industries, and we’re leveraging it on a daily basis to deter crime. Our revolutionary & proprietary AI platform detects criminals before they strike, as it’s able to pick human individuals out from the abundance of visual information caught on camera. AI differentiates human movement from other objects and movement on-site – ranging from inanimate objects, wildlife, weather patterns, and more. AI makes our proactive copper theft solutions even more powerful.
Video Security Units capture every move
Our Video Security Units are the backbone of our proactive security solutions, containing a robust camera package designed for hydro site protection and copper theft prevention. Two stationary cameras provide perimeter protection and situational awareness, and our Remote Video Monitoring operators can zoom in on important details in high-resolution with a dedicated PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera that is installed on each unit. This provides high quality images and court quality evidence that can be leveraged in court cases. These innovative security units are strategically placed around the compound to provide proactive protection of the perimeter and the assets within it.
All units leverage the power of our proprietary cellular LTE+ platform, and multiple units can be installed and wirelessly connected to provide full camera coverage. Many hydro properties are lacking in traditional internet network infrastructure, requiring a wireless solution that makes the difference on remote sites.
IR Night Vision shines a spotlight on criminals
Hydro substations are often in remote locations or in areas where there is low light, making it more difficult to detect criminals in dark conditions. With our IR night vision cameras, this is no longer a concern. IR cameras flood the camera view with infrared light, shining a spotlight on criminals and their actions. Once detected, our Live Remote Video Monitoring team will deter them from acting.
Live Remote Video Monitoring proactively deters criminals
The goal of our Live Remote Video Monitoring team is to deter crimes such as copper wire theft and injury before it happens. If they detect an individual on-site, loud voice commands will be issued and bright LED strobe lights are activated. This helps ensure criminals receive the message loud and clear that the site is off-limits and not to proceed any further. If they continue on, Police will be dispatched to attend the scene and intervene.
syncroReports is security reporting at your fingertips
Our proprietary security reporting platform, syncroReports, is your full security portal for all site security needs. Through syncroReports you can view detailed log reports, control PTZ movement, and access additional project management tools. If an incident occurs on-site, evidence is available for viewing and delivery to law enforcement, when required. All information is available at your fingertips, on web and mobile. Take your security efforts on the go with syncroReports and never miss a moment of your site security.
Hydro theft continues to be a threat for power providers and their customers. It’s also a serious danger to those who carry out these crimes. With proactive security, we can help deter criminals before they commit a crime or incur injury.
Resources:
- “Copper theft leads to power outage for over 5,000 in Kingston”, Tori Stafford, Kingstonist, November 21, 2023
- “Roughly $300K worth of copper wire was stolen from downtown electrical station over two days”, Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto, February 2, 2024
- “Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro concerned over recent theft”, NTV, June 2, 2024
- “PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT: Vandals risk lives to steal copper wire from Western Avalon Substation in Chapel Arm”, Newfoundland Labrador Hydro, May 30, 2024
- “What is Electrical Arcing”, AC Electric