Replacement of LV Consac Cable - This is Only the Beginning

Electricity distribution companies have many thousands of kilometres of underground low voltage cable with significant proportions being installed during the 1950 s and 60 s. Different types of cable have been used, but it is not necessarily the oldest assets that are giving cause for concern. Over recent years there has been a progressive move towards using knowledge about the condition of assets to prioritise and optimise activities. Developments for the analysis of low voltage cable have been limited and therefore much of the decision making remains reactive. Historical replacement volumes can be used to indicate short-term requirements, but this is limited when considering the longer-term. This presentation will seek to describe the problems associated with low voltage Consac cable, the need and drivers for its replacement and the modelling technique, based upon life assumptions, used to predict future replacement requirements.