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Environmental Initiatives

In applying its strategy to align sustainable business practices with its core values, Con Edison develops operational initiatives, new technologies, and innovative equipment that deliver environmental benefits.

Remote monitoring of transformers

Transformers are filled with oil that serves as an insulator, acts to shed heat, and protects the core and coils within the unit. If the transformer fails in service, there is potential for an oil release to the environment. Con Edison of New York is equipping its network transformers with remote-monitoring sensors that provide operators with a near real-time readout of the temperature, pressure, and quantity of oil in the unit. If any parameters exceed operating limits, crews can be dispatched quickly to check the transformer, correct any problems, or even take the unit out of service if necessary. The remote-monitoring capability improves system reliability and also substantially lessens the risk of transformer-oil releases to the environment. Under normal operating conditions, very little deterioration occurs in the oil. Dissolved gas-in-oil analysis (DGOA) is a method of determining incipient failures by checking transformer oil for the presence of dissolved gases. This technique is applied to all transmission and area substation transformers within the Con Edison of New York system. The frequency of sampling for DGOA analysis is based on the size and rating of the transformer. Some units are scheduled for annual sampling, and others are checked semi-annually, at quarterly intervals, or more frequently as needed.