As with any project, unless you set goals, you won’t know whether a pilot is successful. You must start with the end in mind and, at the very least, be out to prove that the reclosers you test can avoid permanent faults and eliminate blinks for customers upstream of those laterals.

There are several ways to define success for a pilot with S&C’s TripSaver® II Cutout-Mounted Recloser. But considering more than one performance angle prepares you for later conversations you may have with multiple internal departments with different priorities and motivations.

Here are the top measurements to consider.

Common Measurements

Reliability Improvements

Your company likely has set reliability-improvement goals, or there may be certain trouble spots on your system that need more attention. Set your pilot’s goals to align with the metrics or targeted improvements your utility wants to achieve. Besides the frequency and duration of outages you’re reducing, also track the momentary outages and their impact TripSaver II reclosers save you as well. The reclosers also collect real-time data, so installing them offers the layered benefit of system intelligence that can be used to inform outage responses and future grid-modernization efforts.

Financial Justification

At the core of any system-improvement initiative are its resulting financial benefits. With TripSaver II reclosers’ ability to improve operational efficiency, there are multiple financial models available to measure savings, such as costs avoided from reducing truck rolls or estimated payback timelines. Running a pilot provides you with the data needed to justify the devices’ value.

Operational Check

Pilots are often used to identify any unique ordering, installation, or procedural considerations for a new device at a utility. Part of your pilot’s success is understanding how the TripSaver II reclosers will function specifically on your system and what you may need for a wide-scale deployment.

Safety Verification

No utility will install technologies that could jeopardize its crews. TripSaver II reclosers are superior to fuses in both functionality and safety; they don’t expel fragments like fuses do, and they can be safely opened and de-energized manually to perform other work around them. Your pilot is an opportunity to prove TripSaver II reclosers are a safe option for your own teams. Additionally, TripSaver II reclosers will eliminate needless truck rolls and reduce the amount of time your crews spend in harm’s way.

Measure What Matters

Do you have definitions of success beyond these? Some utilities have additional measures of success that align with corporate missions, such as sustainability. Think about how TripSaver II reclosers can factor into these top-tier priorities as well. By focusing on priorities, you’ll define a successful pilot.