Design and Performance of Overhead Structures: Overhead structures should withstand decades of exposure to the environment and intermittent storms. Utilities consider structural loading, clearances, and cost, but often lack the data necessary to perform a complete performance analysis. This task examines the mechanical and electrical performance of overhead structures and components through laboratory testing. In 2022, this task intends to apply and expand upon the structural test framework developed in 2021 using specific overhead structure designs and considering performance metrics including mechanical coordination, basic insulation level (BIL), falling branch resistance, conductor slap, flammability, and susceptibility to wildlife interruptions.

Alternative Pole and Crossarm Material Evaluation: This task examines the short- and long-term performance of alternative pole and crossarm materials, such as composites, steel, ductile iron, and concrete. In 2022, this task plans to study the mechanical performance of composite crossarms in response to forces experienced in service using typical line hardware.

Grounding and Lightning Performance: This task examines the application and performance of grounding systems and lightning protection approaches. In 2022, this task plans to investigate the performance of pole butt grounding plates, ground rods, and the use of conductive cements. This task also investigates the performance and degradation of surge arresters.

Overhead Connector Performance Testing: Connectors are a common source of overhead line interruptions. This task tests the electrical and mechanical performance of connectors under varying load and/or environmental conditions.

Pole Hardware Quality Testing and Material Analysis: Utilities deploy innumerable nuts, bolts, and washers when constructing and repairing overhead structures. There are many options available when selecting hardware such as cast or forged materials, hot-dipped or thermal diffusion galvanization, and others. This task intends to examine how material and processing choices affect performance and long-term reliability.

Design and Application of Wildlife Guards to Promote Reliability: Many outages are attributable to wildlife, including squirrels, raccoons, birds, snakes, and other animals capable of bridging energized and/or ground connections. Properly specified and installed wildlife guards can help mitigate these outages. However, wildlife guards that are improperly specified or installed may cause additional issues. This task examines the specification and application of wildlife guards. In 2022, the task intends to examine and document the electrical, mechanical, and aging performance of a variety of wildlife guards.

Evaluation of Pole Inspection Technologies: Pole condition assessment provides a means of prioritizing pole replacement to better optimize O&M budgets. This task investigates tools used to assess wood pole health. In 2022, this task will examine the accuracy of traditional, modern, and emergent pole inspection technologies by comparing inspection results with the data on pole remaining strength collected through laboratory testing. This task also plans to report existing inspection options for steel, composite, and concrete poles.

Online Condition Monitoring and Inspection of Overhead Systems: As sensor capabilities increase and costs decrease, utilities are looking to leverage the technology to improve system performance, identifying and locating issues before they cause outages. This task examines online monitoring systems and inspection tools that could improve overhead distribution system reliability by identifying potential asset failure or vegetation contact before it causes an outage.

Evaluation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technologies: 2022 Update. This report will document emerging technologies, leading practices, and test results from laboratory testing.

Resilient Structure Design: In 2023, this task plans to produce a guide providing design techniques that improve distribution structure resiliency. The approaches can enable engineers to design structures that exhibit increased mechanical coordination, helping improve structure restoration times. This task also plans to begin investigating how mechanical coordination of an overhead structure changes over time.

Alternative Pole and Crossarm Material Evaluation: This task examines the short- and long-term performance of alternative pole and crossarm materials, such as composites, steel, ductile iron, and concrete. In 2023, this task plans to investigate the aging and degradation characteristics of composite crossarms to enable improved inspection criteria and to gather long-term performance data.

Grounding and Lightning Performance: This task examines the application and performance of grounding systems and lightning protection approaches. In 2023, this task plans to investigate the response of conductive backfills to lightning impulses. This task also investigates the performance and degradation of surge arresters.

Overhead Connector Performance Testing: Connectors are a common source of overhead line interruptions. This task tests the electrical and mechanical performance of connectors under varying load and/or environmental conditions. In 2023, this task plans to evaluate how full tension connectors respond to fault conditions.

Pole Hardware Quality Testing and Material Analysis: Utilities have many options available when selecting hardware used to construct and repair overhead structures, including carbon and stainless steels, hot-dipped or thermal diffusion galvanization treatments, and others. In 2023, this task intends to evaluate hardware coatings, including galvanization methods and polymeric coatings.

Evaluation of Emerging Transformer Technologies: Pole-top transformers and voltage regulator designs have remained relatively unchanged for decades. Modern insulation materials could improve the thermal characteristics, environmental friendliness, and reduce flammability compared to traditional oils. In 2023, this task plans to evaluate a cast-resin insulated, medium-voltage pole-top transformer.

Evaluation of Pole Inspection Technologies: Pole condition assessment provides a means of prioritizing pole replacement to better optimize O&M budgets. This task investigates tools used to assess wood pole health. In 2023, this task will examine the accuracy of traditional, modern, and emergent pole inspection technologies by comparing inspection results with the data on pole remaining strength collected through laboratory testing.

Online Condition Monitoring and Inspection of Overhead Systems: As sensor capabilities increase and costs decrease, utilities are looking to leverage the technology to improve system performance by identifying and locating issues before they cause outages. This task examines online monitoring systems and inspection tools that could improve overhead distribution system reliability by identifying potential asset failure or vegetation contact before it causes an outage.

Resilient Structure Design: In 2024, this task plans to develop a means of assessing the ability of a structure to dissipate impact loads, such as those created during tree strikes or when neighboring structures fail, i.e., cascading failures. Research results could help utilities develop new resilient standards.

Alternative Pole and Crossarm Material Evaluation: This task examines the short- and long-term performance of alternative pole and crossarm materials, such as composites, steel, ductile iron, and concrete. In 2024, this task plans to investigate the short- and long-term performance of existing and emerging concrete pole materials.

Grounding and Lightning Performance: This task examines the application and performance of grounding systems and lightning protection approaches. In 2024, this task plans to evaluate additional conductive backfill options. This task also plans to evaluate a new surge arrester design intended to protect distribution lines in rocky areas with poor grounding.

Overhead Connector Performance Testing: Connectors are a common source of overhead line interruptions. This task tests the electrical and mechanical performance of connectors under varying load and/or environmental conditions. In 2024, this task plans to test piercing secondary connectors.

Assessment of Conductor Performance and Emerging Materials: Accelerating electrification, including increasing use of electric vehicles, will require conductors to carry more current, necessitating reconductoring with larger conductors and potentially upgrading structures to support increased conductor weight and wind loads. Newer high-temperature, low-sag (HTLS) conductors are one option that utilities could employ to enable higher line capacity while maintaining existing conductor weight. This task will review HTLS conductor and other technology options to increase line capacity.

Evaluation of Emerging Transformer Technologies: Pole-top transformers and voltage regulator designs have remained relatively unchanged for decades. Modern insulation materials could improve the thermal characteristics and environmental friendliness and reduce flammability compared to traditional oils. In 2024, this task plans to evaluate cast-resin insulated, medium-voltage pole-top transformers.

Evaluation of Pole Inspection Technologies: Pole condition assessment provides a means of prioritizing pole replacement to better optimize O&M budgets. This task investigates tools used to assess the health of poles made from wood or other materials. In 2024, this task will investigate inspection technologies for composite poles. Approaches could include comparing inspection results collected using potential technologies with remaining strength data collected through destructive laboratory testing.

Online Condition Monitoring and Inspection of Overhead Systems: As sensor capabilities increase and costs decrease, utilities are looking to leverage the technology to improve system performance by identifying and locating issues before they cause outages. This task investigates and tests online monitoring systems and inspection tools that could improve overhead distribution system reliability by identifying potential asset failure or vegetation contact before it causes an outage.

Visual Inspection and Condition-Based Monitoring: Non-contact inspections have value, but remaining asset life is often unknown or subjectively assessed. This task researches the relationships between distribution component health and visual data such as imagery, video, LiDAR, and other digital data.

Technology Scouting: The pace of change in distribution technology is accelerating, with new technologies, approaches, vendors, and service providers entering the market and offering new solutions. This research will scout new technologies for overhead distribution and identify opportunities for further investigation and demonstrations.