Outsourced Engineering Professional

Engineering System Professionals (ESP): Distribution and Delivery System Services

When you outsource distribution and delivery system tasks, your electric utility demands that your outsourcing partner embraces your projects with the same enthusiasm, commitment and care that you do.

The Power System Engineering, Inc. (PSE) team offers you instant access to our extensive outsourced engineering resources and an engineering team focused on your success. Our proactive customer approach is built upon over three decades of service to the electric utility industry.

The Advantages of Outsourcing Engineering

Temporary spikes in demand for delivery and distribution system engineering resources — and the need to control project and/or salary costs — usually drive the need for engineering outsourcing. The PSE professionals can address both by helping you finish your projects on time and within budget.

Equally valuable is the opportunity to access our problem-solving experience. Whether it's getting it right from the start, solving an urgent problem or meeting a looming deadline, PSE’s engineering system professionals have the resources, organization, and experience to support your technology outsourcing needs.

When you outsource an engineering job or project to PSE, you will have direct access to your engineers or engineering team leader. This fast, direct access takes full advantage of the power of communication in effective teamwork and problem solving.

ESP: Distribution and Delivery System Services

  • Assist operating personnel with the resolution of delivery system operating problems.
  • Perform distribution and delivery system analysis and make recommendations to assure safe system operation.
  • Monitor project during detailed design and construction, providing functional direction when necessary.
  • Maintain a strong working knowledge of company safety rules, state and national electrical codes, system operating and maintenance practices, and other related technical issues.
  • Provide regulatory requirements and industry standards knowledge.
  • Perform cost estimates and cost/benefit analysis.
  • Provide customer service and technical assistance to utilities.
  • Monitor technical developments in the electric utility distribution engineering field, while making recommendations for significant or incremental improvements when deemed necessary.
  • Monitor the integrity of system voltage, capacity, overcurrent device coordination, voltage flicker, and other related items.
  • Responsible for the investigation and mitigation of electrical system power quality and interference problems due to abnormal currents and voltage.
  • Assist in the development of cost sharing, interconnection and facilities agreements with other utilities.
  • Assist in the preparation of documents and media for public information meetings and hearings.

ESP: Specific Projects

Type of Work When/How Often Included Work Benefits
Phase Balancing Yearly, TBD Balance a certain number of feeders or worst balanced feeder according to planning criteria and agreement. A balanced system improves voltage, decreases stray voltage concerns, and increases power quality.
Motor Start As Needed Analyze motor start/flicker as new customers install new equipment. Minimize flicker and operational disturbances for consumers near the new equipment.
Stray voltage Analysis As Needed Recommend projects to improve voltage to affected consumers. (Does not include stray voltage investigation.)  
Work Plan Management Biannually, TBD Update work plan timeline of projects with completed work. Keeps Operations on track with work plan projects to maintain normal voltage within criteria limits.
5% Worst Performing Feeders Annually, TBD Analyze outage data yearly to determine 5% worst performing feeders on the system. Helps to identify areas of poor reliability and work towards concentrating construction funds towards problem areas and improving overall reliability of the system.
Age and Condition Project Development Annually, TBD Analyze age of system reject poles and conductor sizes to develop projects according to the utility's desired age and condition rebuild goals. Identifies and creates a plan to upgrade old system infrastructure. Allows a utility to be proactive in replacing aging facilities.
Project Prioritization Tool Annually, TBD Create a project prioritization tool using reliability and criteria violation versus costs to prioritize projects. Update annually. Can be sure to determine the best "bang for buck" when developing construction.

 

ESP: We’re Flexible

PSE offers a variety of outsourcing arrangements. We can work with you to tailor an engagement to meet your needs.

Call for more information

1.608.222.8400