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OurGreenCommunity.org
SMUD is underwriting OurGreenCommunity.org, a Web site developed to help improve the quality of life by providing a place for area residents, groups and businesses to share ideas about reducing the impact of carbon emissions from all sources.
Visit and join in the conversation at OurGreenCommunity.org
Avian Protection Program
SMUD has been engaged in the protection of birds from electrocution since the 1980s. In step with SMUD’s environmental commitment, we continue to respond to reports of outages caused by avian electrocution and collision. SMUD has partnered with the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee to develop strategies to reduce avian mortality.
SMUD’s Avian Protection hotline is available 24 hours a day to report any outages caused by birds, including birds that may be building nests on utility poles or in substations: (916) 732-6966.
Reducing Outages
One of the challenges of keeping SMUD’s electric distribution system up and running the number of outages caused by small animals and birds that find their way into electrical facilities.
From squirrels to cats and rats, animals that explore energized equipment often result in outages of service due to electrocution. Outages caused by birds are no exception. For many years, SMUD engineers have evaluated different design standards to minimize the potential for bird electrocution.
Bird Powerline Interactions
We also respond proactively to calls from customers that make us aware of what’s called in the industry “bird powerline interactions” - those circumstances that could result in or have resulted in avian mortality due to overhead facilities.
SMUD has partnered with the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee (Edison Electric Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to develop strategies to reduce avian mortality. As a result, SMUD staff has formalized an approach to dealing with avian mortality by preparing a document that identifies cost-effective approaches to minimize both avian mortality and resulting outages.
SMUD's Avian Protection Plan
The Avian Protection Plan identifies steps that can be taken to reduce the opportunity for birds to be caught up in electric facilities. For example, an important feature of new construction at SMUD is to ensure that spacing of overhead lines are separated in a way to avoid contact with birds’ wings. This can be done by installing longer crossarms on the pole or installing insulated materials to prevent contact.
With over 12,000 miles of overhead facilities in the SMUD system, that’s a challenge. Existing facilities are monitored to determine where incident “hot spots” are located so appropriate action can be taken.
The APP or Avian Protection Plan describes methods through which bird mortality from electrocution and wire collisions can be documented, monitored, and reduced.
This plan formalizes and enhances past practices of avian protection and incorporates industry best practices for future installations as necessary. The document is based on and organized according to the APP Guidelines, a joint guidance document prepared by the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (APLIC and USFWS 2005).
To view the plan, click here.
Bird Identification Guide
A bird identification guide was designed for use by SMUD field staff as an accompanying document to the SMUD
Avian Protection Plan . The field guide provides an easy reference to identify the birds most likely to be encountered, so that the species of each bird is accurately noted during the field documentation process. Identifying birds within SMUD’s service area that are susceptible to electrocution or collision will help in the design of new facilities.
The guide provides a brief summary of the habitat and distribution of each selected species in the SMUD service area, a description of each bird’s most distinguishing
characteristics, and representative photographs. Birds are roughly divided into two groups - those that are primarily susceptible to electrocution because they frequently perch on utility poles and are in close proximity to multiple conductors
and electrified equipment, and those that are primarily susceptible to collision because they often fly low in open landscapes or during inclement weather under low visibility conditions.
This guide is not intended to provide a complete accounting or description of the birds of Sacramento County or of every bird susceptible to electrocution or collision mortality. To view the guide, click here. (this is a large file and may take several minutes to download)
Avian Protection Hotline
SMUD’s Avian Protection hotline is available 24 hours a day to report any outages caused by birds, including birds that may be building nests in utility poles or substations: (916) 732-6966.
We remain committed to providing energy in a safe, reliable and environmentally compatible manner. In step with SMUD’s environmental commitment, we continue to be stewards of the resources entrusted to us, including avian species.