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Smart switch will enhance electric service for 8,000 Ameren Missouri customers

"We're installing a type of Distribution Automation (DA) device called a Viper switch," said Russell Burger, SEMO division director for Ameren Missouri. "This new smart technology more rapidly detects and isolates damage on the system and reroutes power where possible – reducing outages and speeding power restoration sometimes from hours to seconds. The smart technology upgrades are delivering up to a 40% improvement in reliability on circuits that use smart equipment switches."

Ameren Missouri's goal is to have one smart switch for every 400 customers in its service territory across the state; this means about 3,000 smart switches will be installed on the grid.

"This smart switch installation project will help improve reliability to around 8,000 Ameren customers in the area that is served from seven different Ameren Missouri substations including the Potosi, Mineral Point, Cadet, Blackwell and Richwoods," said Josh Heineman, career engineer at Ameren Missouri.

Part of the make-ready work involved the installation of a new, larger pole in order to meet structural and height requirements for the new Viper Switch and all of the associated equipment to meet operational requirements.

"The Viper switch itself weighs about 800 pounds. So, for this project we are utilizing two crews (five workers) and a crane to hoist the Viper into position. Typically, a smart switch project similar to this takes just over 100 man hours to complete the installation," said Heineman.

Construction at this location began in mid-October and will bring benefits to the community this fall.

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