IEEE PI2 Austin 1/27/2026: 1) Reliability Focused Load Outage Assessment tool – SAIDI and SAIFI Improvements & 2) Switching It Up: A New Innovative 3-Way GOAB Switching Structure
IEEE (PI)² Austin, January 27, 2026, Tech Meeting In-Person 6 PM Central / 7 PM Eastern at
NEW LOCATION/ New Process!: Casa Chapala 9041 Research Boulevard Unit 100, Austin TX 78758 - Attendees select and purhase their own meals and drinks (a meal order is required). IEEE Student Members' meals are free!
Two (shorter) talks!
Abstracts:
Reliability Focused Load Outage Assessment tool – SAIDI and SAIFI Improvements
LCRA has been improving power grid reliability through equipment replacement projects using equipment/asset-based health assessment tools. While the equipment/asset-based reliability assessments are respected and widely accepted in the industry, the assessment focuses have been limited to high dollar assets such as transformers and circuit breakers rather than high impact areas. LCRA implemented a load outage assessment dashboard that analyzes LCRA outage data in a new and different way. It provides a holistic assessment for all transmission lines and substations from the perspectives of SAIFI and SAIDI reliability metrics. The new dashboard allows LCRA to identify reoccurring deficiencies that lead to high reliability impacts and high O&M costs. LCRA made a several improvement projects that were identified as great opportunities using the new dashboard. This effort led LCRA achieving the best performing year in 20 years for the LCRA SAIFI and SAIDI reliability performance metrics.
Switching It Up: A New Innovative 3-Way GOAB Switching Structure
Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) faced significant challenges with the traditional 3-WAY GOAB (Gang Operated Air-Break) transmission line switches, which led to operational and safety issues due to their tendency to bind, seize, and break. In response to these challenges, LCRA has pioneered a new innovative 3-WAY GOAB Alternative design that addresses these issues by enhancing flexibility in operation, safety by design, and overall reliability. Launched in 2024, the first installation of this innovative two monopole switching structure design not only meets all operational and maintenance requirements but also comes at a significantly lowers cost, footprint, and construction timeline compared to another 3-WAY Box Structure Alternative. This advancement represents a significant step forward in LCRA's commitment to improving infrastructure and service reliability through design solutions.
For PDH hours, please email the (PI)² Secretary, pi2-secretary@ieee.org.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
-
Add Event to Calendar
- Casa Chapala, 9041 Research Boulevard
- Austin, Texas
- United States 78758
- Building: Unit 100
- Room Number: Ask for room location at front desk
- Contact Event Hosts
-
Officers
Chair Bob Hebner: r.hebner@ieee.org
Vice Chair Feisal Buitrago Sandoval: feisalbuitrago@gmail.com
Treasurer Rishad Basutkar: rishab.basutkar@gmail.com
Secretary Charles Goertz :cgoertz@us.tuv.com
- Starts 13 January 2026 09:00 PM UTC
- Ends 27 January 2026 06:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Nick Choi
1) Reliability Focused Load Outage Assessment tool, & 2) An Innovative 3-Way GOAB Switching Structure
1) Reliability Focused Load Outage Assessment tool – SAIDI and SAIFI Improvements
2) Switching It Up: A New Innovative 3-Way GOAB Switching Structure
Biography:
Nick Choi has been employed at the Lower Colorado River Authority since 2015. He is a substation maintenance engineer and a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas. He earned B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He had served as committee chair and vice chair for International Conference of Doble Clients. He actively serves in various industry practices and make meaningful impact to LCRA and other organizations such as IEEE, NATF, TSDOS, EPRI, and Doble international conferences
Address:Austin, Texas, United States