Traveling Wave vs Distance Relay Savings

When a transmission line fault occurs in remote, mountainous terrain spanning 200+ miles, every hour of search time costs thousands of dollars—and traditional fault location methods leave crews searching 20-30 mile stretches of inaccessible landscape. This comparative study reveals how one innovative utility transformed their fault response strategy and achieved extraordinary cost savings.

The $200,000 Problem

El Paso Electric operates critical 345kV transmission lines stretching over 225 miles through some of the harshest terrain in the Southwest—accessible only by foot, all-terrain vehicles, or helicopter. These lines import 30% of peak load, making rapid fault location essential. When traditional impedance-based distance relays provide only 10-15% accuracy, finding a fault can take days and cost up to $200,000 in spot market power purchases alone.

What You'll Discover:

Real-World Cost Comparisons – See documented savings of $4,000+ per fault event through faster crew deployment, plus avoided costs exceeding $100,000 per day during peak periods when lines can be restored faster.

Four Detailed Case Studies – Follow actual fault events where traveling wave technology pinpointed exact structures, revealing critical design flaws that impedance methods would never have detected—including fire-damaged poles, inadequate clearances, and ice storm damage affecting 103 structures.

Design Improvements That Prevented Future Failures – Learn how pinpoint accuracy enabled root cause analysis leading to system-wide upgrades: 1,500 structures retrofitted, cross-arm modifications preventing flashovers, and steel structure replacements improving wind resistance.

Accuracy Comparison: Impedance vs. Traveling Wave – Understand why impedance methods struggle with mixed wood/steel construction and varying zero-sequence values, while traveling wave systems consistently achieve structure-level accuracy regardless of line configuration.

NERC Compliance Benefits – Discover how enhanced fault location supports mandatory investigation requirements for all 115kV+ line trips while reducing SAIDI and improving regulatory reporting accuracy.

Download this utility-proven case study to learn how traveling wave technology delivers measurable ROI through faster restoration and improved reliability.