Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL)
117 Case Studies
Case Study: Empire District Electric Company restores power after an EF5 tornado with SEL protective relays
A Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) Case Study
Empire District Electric Company restores power to 12,000 customers in 10 days with SEL
Empire District Electric Company faced a catastrophic challenge when an EF5 tornado completely destroyed a substation in Joplin, Missouri, leaving 20,000 customers without power. Amid the devastation, an SEL-501 Dual Universal Overcurrent Relay from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) was discovered still standing and operational on a demolished breaker.
SEL expedited the delivery of new relays and provided equipment at a considerable discount, helping Empire restore power to 12,000 customers within ten days and completely rebuild the substation in seven months. The original SEL-501 relay was later retested and found to be in perfect working order, a testament to SEL's product durability. Empire was honored with an industry award for its restoration efforts.
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