Generic Maintenance Plan
Summary
This generic maintenance plan is provided as a high level indication of typical maintenance requirements.
TransGrid publishes this information under clause 5.2A.5 of the National Electricity Rules.
Document Control
Date of issue July 2018 Update Initial version
Disclaimer and important notice
This document and the information in it is for general guidance only and may be subsequently updated or
amended. This document does not constitute technical or other professional advice, and should not be relied
on as a substitute for obtaining detailed technical and professional advice about its subject matter.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, TranGrid and its officers, employees and consultants involved in the
preparation of this document:
• make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the currency, accuracy, reliability or
completeness of the information in this document
• are not liable (whether by reason of negligence or otherwise) for any statements or representations in this
document, or any omissions from it, or for any use or reliance on the information in it
Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................2
2. Typical Maintenance Intervals (Routine and Inspections) ........................................................................2
2.1 Asset Type Substation .........................................................................................................................3
2.2 Transmission Lines and Cables ...........................................................................................................3
2.3 Automation ...........................................................................................................................................4
2.4 Metering ...............................................................................................................................................5
2.5 Telecommunications ............................................................................................................................6
2.6 Network Property .................................................................................................................................7
1 | Generic Maintenance Plan
1. Introduction
This generic maintenance plan is provided as a high level indication of typical maintenance requirements and
is based on existing TransGrid Maintenance Plans developed. In developing maintenance plans and managing
assets generally, TransGrid applies ISO5500: Asset Management principles and strives for industry best
practice in all areas.
Aspects of the maintenance plan will vary depending on operating duty and environment and cannot be finalised
until the selection, configuration and utilisation of the installed assets is understood.
The list of assets below is not exhaustive, but reflects the significant assets requiring maintenance. Minor asset
maintenance is generally carried out with the more significant asset for efficiency. Not all assets listed below
will be required at all sites.
2. Typical Maintenance Intervals (Routine and Inspections)
2 | Generic Maintenance Plan
2.1 Asset Type Substation
Substations Activity Maintenance Interval
Power Cables Maintenance Same Interval as connected Plant
Equipment
Oil Containment Switchyard Drainage facilities inspection 10 Years
2.2 Transmission Lines and Cables
Transmission Lines and Activity Maintenance Interval
Cables
All Transmission Line Aerial inspection 1 Year
3 | Generic Maintenance Plan
Steel Tower, Steel Pole, Ground & Climbing inspection 5 Years
Concrete Pole
Foundation inspection 5 Years
Wood Pole Ground & Climbing inspection 3-6 Years
Under Ground inspection 3-6 Years
Selected Lines Compliance inspection 1-2 Years *(high bushfire risk)
Structure Earthing testing 10 years *(close to publicly
frequented areas)
OPGW Hanger bracket climbing 5 Years
inspections
Thermographic inspection 3-12 Years
Aircraft Warning Light inspection 6 Monthly
Thermographic Inspections Significant heating of problem areas, 3 Yearly *(6 & 12 Yearly for lower
Typical Winter Daytime Load >500Amps Load Current)
per conductor
Easement and Vegetation Scheduled easement inspection & 1-3 Years *(Constrained)
Inspection vegetation maintenance
Condition based 1-3 Years *(Hot Spot)
LIDAR 1-3 Years
Cable Route Maintenance Above ground structures 1 Year
Easement & Access track inspections 6 Monthly
Property owner information 1 Year
2.3 Automation
Automation Activity Maintenance Interval
Transmission Line and Self-checking protection relays 8 Years
Cable Protection Current Differential, Distance
Non-self-checking protection relays 6 Years
Current Differential, Distance,
Automation Activity Maintenance Interval
Overcurrent, and Pilot Wire
All protection relays With associated reactor
With series or shunt oil-filled reactor maintenance
4 | Generic Maintenance Plan
Capacitor Self-checking protection relays 8 Years
Non-self-checking protection relays 6 Years
Transformer OIP with bushing monitor and RIP with associated primary plant
bushing) maintenance
(except OIP and RIP bushing), SVC and with every second associated
Reactor - self checking protection relays primary plant maintenance
(except OIP and RIP bushing), SVC and with associated primary plant
Reactor - non-self-checking protection maintenance
relay
Buchholz and Pressure mechanical with associated primary plant
protection devices maintenance
Under Frequency and Self-checking protection relays 8 Years
Under Voltage Load
Shedding, Over Voltage Non-self-checking protection relays 4 Years
Protection
Analysis Equipment Fault Disturbance Recorders and Fault 8 Years
locators
Local storage unit filter checks 6 Monthly
Battery DC Intertrip Batteries - battery 8 Years
replacement
Protection Performance Busbar and Interzone - all protection 8 Years
Checks relays
In Service Trip and Auto Reclose Checks 2 Years
DC Intertrip Batteries - load test 6 Monthly
VF Intertrips - Non-Intrusive testing 8 Years
SCADA SCADA Transducers 5 Years
SCADA Generators maintenance 3 Monthly (1 Year Major)
250V and 110V Battery and NiCd Batteries <12 years old 2 Years *(4 Year Major)
Charger Systems
NiCd Batteries >12 years old 1 Year *(2 Years Major)
2.4 Metering
Metering Activity Maintenance Interval
Revenue and Check Electronic TUOS Meters 5 Years
Meters
Induction 2.5 Years
Independent checks 2.5 Years
5 | Generic Maintenance Plan
Metering Activity Maintenance Interval
Temporary Meter Portable 1 Year
Fixed 5 Years
Market Metering CT and VT - Accuracy tests 10 Years
Burden and Voltage Drop check with meter maintenance
Inspections 2.5 Years
Data Logger Battery Remote Interrogable meters 2.5 Years
Replacement
Built in Data loggers 5 Years
Pulse Checks External Data loggers 6 Monthly
Internal Data Loggers and Remote 2.5 Years
Interrogation Capability
2.5 Telecommunications
Telecommunications Activity Maintenance Interval
Dehydrator Dehydrator 1 Year
OTN Data Backup OTN Data Backup 6 Monthly
Optical Fibre Testing Corrosive joint boxes installed 6 Monthly
Non-corrosive joint boxes installed 1 Year
Telecommunications Radio Steel, Wood, Concrete 6 Years
Towers
PLC Intertrip Terminal Non self-checking 6 Years
Equipment
Self-checking 8 Years
PLC Carrier Coupling Active PLC connections only 6 Years
Equipment
Batteries NiCd Batteries <12 years old 4 Years
NiCd Batteries >12 years old 2 Years
Lead Acid Batteries <8 years old - major 4 Years
maintenance
Lead Acid Batteries >8 years old - major 2 Years
maintenance
6 | Generic Maintenance Plan
NiCd Batteries - minor maintenance 6 Monthly
VHF 12V Base Stations 1 Year
Repeater/Link maintenance 1 Year
2.6 Network Property
7 | Generic Maintenance Plan
