The ESB owns 6500 km of overhead power transmission lines, operating at voltages up to 220Kv. The lines are mostly of the Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced, ACSR, type construction. Much of the system is at 110Kv and the majority are around 50 to 60 years old with the average life of these type of lines being around 44 years. As such, some lines are very close to failure while others are in better condition. A simple and rapid method of the assessment of the condition of these lines was required in order to help ensure that a line replacement programme is carried out in an optimal manner. The present paper attempts to describe a programme of work which is presently in progress to establish such a method of assessment which will assign remnant life values to individual lines such that a rational line replacement plan can be constructed.
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