Training simulators of underground networks

Public Power Corporation S.A. (PPC) is the main producer of electricity in Greece. Transport and distribution of electric power are also exclusively controlled by PPC countrywide. A large portion of the Distribution networks in Greek urban centers, particularly in Athens and Thessaloniki are underground. Unscheduled power interruptions to Low Voltage (L.V.) consumers, may be classified to several groups according to their material cause. In order to solve them, it is imperative in each individual case to ascertain the cause of interruption, the location of the problem-point and to perform the necessary operations. The Repair Crew intervention takes place under conditions of great stress due to time constraints, often severe customer complaints and lack of precise information. This combination of conditions is conducive to work-related accidents and, indeed, in the past several such have been recorded, happily none of them fatal or resulting in serious bodily injury. In view of the above remarks it became clear, after a stage in the development of underground networks that training of personnel on their safe operation had to become significantly more systematic and detailed.