Richmond’s Utility Failures Highlight Need for Urgent Infrastructure Upgrades

Key Infrastructure Failures

The report identifies multiple points of failure within Richmond’s utility and emergency response systems. One of the primary issues was the malfunction of the TIE breaker in the freshwater MV gear transfer scheme. The failure occurred when a Dominion Energy power feed dropped, causing an expected transfer that did not execute due to a defective CLOSE coil in the switchgear.

This issue was compounded by:

• A blown fuse in the control cabinet, which was replaced but did not resolve the problem.
• A mechanical issue with the breaker’s CLOSE button, preventing it from properly resetting.
• Delays in troubleshooting and response led to an extended outage that impacted water services and critical municipal operations.

Field engineers took immediate action to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Their assessment revealed that the TIE breaker failed to operate due to a malfunctioning coil, causing a cascading failure. To restore functionality, a spare breaker was installed, successfully resolving the outage. However, the incident highlighted a lack of redundancy in Richmond’s power transfer infrastructure.

Infrastructure Improvements and Future Planning

The after-action report provides key recommendations to prevent future failures, including:

• Upgrading Critical Electrical Components
  • Replacing aging switchgear and breakers to prevent failures.
  • Implementing real-time monitoring systems for electrical faults.
• Enhancing Redundancy and Automation
  • Installing backup power systems for essential infrastructure.
  • Ensuring automatic failover mechanisms are regularly tested and maintained.
• Strengthening Emergency Response Protocols
  • Training personnel on rapid troubleshooting procedures for electrical failures.
  • Establishing faster communication channels between Dominion Energy and city utilities.

After-Action Report, What's Next?

The after-action report makes it clear: Richmond’s infrastructure needs immediate upgrades to prevent future failures. Key issues—aging equipment, lack of redundancy, and slow response times—must be addressed with modernized systems and proactive maintenance. Without these improvements, the city risks repeat outages and further disruptions to essential services.