Insulated Jibs Help Linemen Shave Hours Off Repair Times

Commonwealth Edison Co (ComEd) has been looking to the future for more efficient ways to service its 5,400 circuit miles of overhead transmission lines. ComEd first started discussing ways to improve efficiency at the 2009 ICUEE show in Louisville, KY. The utility explained the situation to Diversified Products, a company that offers specialized equipment solutions for the utility industry. Diversified's solution for ComEd was the ELL-161kV energized line lifter. This 10-ft-long insulated jib would let linemen take one line out of service while lifting and keeping another line energized with the jib. ComEd decided to purchase three units so linemen could work on multiple phases at one time. Since the first application, ComEd has determined that using the ELL-161kV saves each worker on the job about 10 to 20 hours of labor for every time this product is used.