Couldn't believe my eyes - No MGN!!

[peter d]

On my recent vacation to AZ and CA, I decided I would do what I always do and look at everything electrical.

So I noticed that in the area I was staying in, all of the local distribution was done with 3 phase (or "2 phase" for the sideroads) with no MGN in sight. All of the overhead transformers were double bushing cans connected L-L (obviously). This was in SCE (Southern California Edison) territory.

Does anyone know is this is typical for SCE?

It was definitely unusual to see a non-MGN system in use in the US.

 

[mdshunk]

I might guess they do that to fight voltage drop with substations spaced further apart. No big deal. I'm sure the pole still had a down ground connected to the secondary neutral. Think of it like supplying your high bay fixtures at 208 versus 120 to be able to use smaller conductors for longer distances.

 

[peter d]

I might guess they do that to fight voltage drop with substations spaced further apart. No big deal.

That makes sense. This was a high desert town with very long distances in the network. Some houses were miles apart.

I'm sure the pole still had a down ground connected to the secondary neutral.

Indeed they did.

 

[wireguru]

I saw a SWER out in the boonies in utah. took me forever to figure out what the heck it was

 

[iwire]

Pete I think that was delta distribution instead of Wye.

You still have that in parts of CT.

 

[dbuckley]

This was a high desert town with very long distances in the network. Some houses were miles apart.

The reason will be that it is cheaper to buy slightly more expensive transformers than run miles of an extra cable for the MGN.

In PoCo terminology, the goal is to "reduce the amount of investment in network assets per customer", this quoted from my local distribution companies asset management plan, but I doubt there are many PoCos worldwide that have a different goal.

 

[bcorbin]

In PoCo terminology, the goal is to "reduce the amount of investment in network assets per customer", this quoted from my local distribution companies asset management plan, but I doubt there are many PoCos worldwide that have a different goal.

Not just power companies...that is the preferred model of every business endeavor that realistically seeks a profit.