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This profile was automatically generated using 4 references found on the Internet. This information has not been verified. Learn more...
This profile was automatically generated using 4 references found on the Internet. This information has not been verified. Learn more...
Web References
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1. HAMPTON ROADS - News
www.hamptonroads.com/weather/h - [Cached]Published on: 3/29/2003 Last Visited: 3/29/2003
By either measure, "Bonnie was one of the worst" events ever for Virginia Power, said Rodney Blevins, director of distribution construction design for Virginia Power, who helped manage the company's response. Restoration took 5 1/2 days as crews made more than 4,200 individual repairs. It was months before all permanent repairs were completed.
Initially, many of the fixes restored service to thousands at a time. That's common practice in the utility industry. Priority is given to fixing those things that can restore power to the greatest number of people the quickest.
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"Less than 10 percent of the outages were actual overhead service wires that were down," Blevins said. But it was those 360 locations where people had to wait to the bitter, freezer-defrosted, air conditioner-deprived end.
Many of them may have wished their power lines had been underground. Because once service was restored to their street, their lights would have been on.
Blevins is wary of painting the underground option as a panacea, however.
"It only involves the last 200 feet or so of your service," he said. But the electricity reaching any one home may have come for 200 miles or more on a complicated web of overhead transmission lines.
"By going underground, you may incrementally reduce the chance of a power outage," Blevins said. "But it is incremental. Going underground is not a silver bullet."
A key problem with going underground is the same one that people may consider the best reason for doing it: repairs.
Yes, they may avoid problems in a mass outage with their line sitting on the ground for days.
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"On annual basis, we have about 5,800 failures reported on underground service lines," Blevins said.
Residents should check on their options, however, hesaid. "There are certain circumstances where it would make very good sense."
People who are interested in getting their service buried should talk with their electrician first, Blevins said. They can then contact Virginia Power. An engineer will survey the property and draw up a proposal that will include the fee, if any, the customer must pay.
"It's a complicated formula for when people pay and how much they pay," Blevins said.
The work itself generally is completed in a few hours with service out only a short time.
Crews generally can use a sideways drilling device to push power line through and under the ground, minimizing the numbers of holes that must be dug and thus limiting destruction of yards.
For questions about putting electrical service underground, call Dominion Virginia Power at 888-667-3000.
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2. Dominion Virginia Power Promotes Rodney Blevins To Vice President-Electric Operations
www.dom.com/news/elec2006/pr12 - [Cached]Published on: 12/12/2006 Last Visited: 6/21/2008
RICHMOND, Va. , Dominion Virginia Power has promoted Rodney Blevins to vice president-Electric Operations.
In his new position, Blevins is responsible for the design, construction, maintenance and service restoration functions for the company's substation and distribution assets.He will report to Craig Ivey, senior vice president-Electric Delivery.
Blevins had served as director-Distribution Operations since 2004.Previous positions included director-Distribution Construction and director-Distribution Design.
A native of Crewe, Va., Blevins joined Dominion in 1987 as an associate engineer after he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Electric Engineering from Virginia Tech. In 2002, he attended the Advanced Management Program at Duke University.
Rodney Blevins
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Rodney Blevins -
3. HAMPTON ROADS News
www.pilotonline.com/hurricanes - [Cached]Published on: 2/17/2001 Last Visited: 7/19/2001
By either measure , ``Bonnie was one of the worst'' events ever for Virginia Power , said Rodney Blevins , director of distribution construction design for Virginia Power , who helped manage the company's response.
...
``Less than 10 percent of the outages were actual overhead service wires that were down , '' Blevins said. But it was those 360 locations where people had to wait to the bitter , freezer-defrosted , air conditioner-deprived end.
Many of them may have wished their power lines had been underground. Because once service was restored to their street , their lights would have been on.
Blevins is wary of painting the underground option as a panacea , however.
``It only involves the last 200 feet or so of your service , '' he said. But the electricity reaching any one home may have come for 200 miles or more on a complicated web of overhead transmission lines.
``By going underground , you may incrementally reduce the chance of a power outage , '' Blevins said. ``But it is incremental. Going underground is not a silver bullet.''.
A key problem with going underground is the same one that people may consider the best reason for doing it : repairs.
...
``On annual basis , we have about 5 , 800 failures reported on underground service lines , '' Blevins said.
Residents should check on their options , however , hesaid. ``There are certain circumstances where it would make very good sense.''.
People who are interested in getting their service buried should talk with their electrician first , Blevins said.
...
``It's a complicated formula for when people pay and how much they pay , '' Blevins said.
The work itself generally is completed in a few hours with service out only a short time.
Crews generally can use a sideways drilling device to push power line through and under the ground , minimizing the numbers of holes that must be dug and thus limiting destruction of yards.
For questions about putting electrical service underground , call Dominion Virginia Power at 888-667-3000.
