OREANDA-NEWS. July 12, 2012. In 2012, IDGC of the North-West, JSC plans to expand corridors in the volume of 456 ha; it is 2.9 times more than a year ago. Particularly, in May of the current year Vologdaenergo branch of IDGC of the North-West started implementation of the investment project to expand the corridor along “Sokol-Biryakovo” 110 kV overhead line route. In the section 100 km long the scope of expansion will make 80 ha. In the current year, Vologdaenergo CAPEX on the socially significant project scheduled for the period till 2014 to ensure high-quality, reliable and uninterrupted consumer electric power supply will make 3.2 mln rubles.

In 2013, the scope of works related to expand line corridors within the framework of IDGC of the North-West investment program will be increased to 725 ha, in 2014   to 833 ha, in 2015 – to 957 ha. In 2016, it is planned to clear 756 ha. Corridor expansion is aimed to minimize technological shutdowns of overhead lines due to wire cutouts caused by trees fallen for various reasons.

In addition to corridor expansion, IDGC of the North-West carries out annual scheduled corridor clearance. In particular, the current year plan provides clearance of 13,356.7 ha. 13,988.9 ha were cleared in 2011, 11,786.9 ha – in 2010. Route clearance of all power transmission lines is a priority area of the repair campaign by IDGC of the North-West branches and carried out within the framework of preparation for accident-free operation in the autumn/winter season. The order “On results of operation in the 2011/2012 autumn/winter season and preparation for 2012/2013 autumn/winter season” was signed by Sergey Titov, General Director of IDGC of the North-West, on July 5, 2012.

Trees on the corridor boarder may cause short-circuits and power supply interruption. The risk of trees falling on transmission lines increases under unfavorable weather conditions.