Bulletin 1728F-803 Implementation

| Questions and concerns from some Rural Utilities    Service (RUS) borrowers prompted us to investigate the unusual problems that are being    encountered in implementing new Bulletin 1728F-803, "Specifications and Drawings    for 24.9/14.4 kV Line Construction." We contacted some borrowers in person and    others by telephone who told us about the disturbing impact the new assembly numbers were    causing for their staffs and their computer programs.

We have learned that a number of borrowers utilize some very    sophisticated and extensive computer software to aid them in their line staking.    Additionally, these computer programs are closely linked together in a system that    calculates, and sometimes controls, materials, inventory, cost estimating, retirement, and    various other accounting functions. Some of these computer systems were developed in-house    and some were purchased from specialized software vendors. Quite frankly, until our recent    investigation, we were not aware that these software systems were so extensive, so closely    linked together, and so difficult to make changes and additions. Also, when we delayed the    effective date of the new bulletin, it did not occur to us that the date we picked,    December 31, 1999, was the day before "Y2K"! We were advised that our timing on    this bulletin could not have been worse because many borrowers are changing their entire    data processing systems in an effort to be Y2K compatible. Dealing with entirely new    processing systems while also having to deal with drawing number changes was more than    anyone needed.

We were aware that line workers and engineers would need to become    accustomed to a new set of assembly unit numbers and new drawings. We also anticipated    that this would not be a popular change. The change in the construction assemblies    themselves and their associated material is actually very minor as discussed below. Some    of the borrowers we talked with told us that the change in the numbers and drawings would    not be so difficult if they had more transition time to familiarize themselves with the    numbers and drawings before they would actually be used.

Based on what we have learned, we are planning to delay the effective    date of new Bulletin 1728F-803 such that borrowers may continue to use old    Bulletin 50-5 (D-803), "Specifications and Drawings for 24.9/14.4 kV    Line Construction," until July 1, 2001, or may use new Bulletin 1728F-803    immediately. When approved, this postponement will:
Allow borrowers to delay transition work until after the "Y2K" event;
Allow sufficient time to make orderly and required changes in their computer systems;
Allow users of the new bulletin adequate time to get use to the new numbers and drawings          before they are to be used; and,
Allow RUS time to provide borrowers with conversion tables (
i.e.,
 the new number          of the old assembly) and other data and information borrowers might find useful.

We have developed a table converting RUS Bulletin 1728F-803    construction units to retirement units. This conversion table is similar to the existing    tables in the appendices of Bulletin 1767B-2, "Work Order Procedure    (Electric)." This information should be available to borrowers shortly.

We have also compiled a conversion table that compares the new assembly    numbers with the old numbers with annotated comments on what changes are involved. This    table is attached as Exhibit 1. After reviewing this table one will see that the new    numbering system is more orderly, and more importantly, one will see that the actual    construction assembly units have not changed drastically.

Changes needed to be made to computer systems (because of RUS    Bulletin 1728F-803 drawings) are not as drastic as they might first seem if the    following is considered:

Several assemblies were deleted because they are no longer used or    useful to borrowers. Many of these deleted units were "guide drawings." Unlike    construction assembly units, "guide drawings" do not have any material    associated with them. The new bulletin has several new guide drawings (with no material)    that need not be entered in computer programs.

There are many new drawings depicting optional use of post type    insulators. These types of drawings were not in the old bulletin. If a borrower does not    use or plan to use post type insulators, then there is no need to enter them in the    computer. On the other hand, if post type insulators are used, then the new drawings    should be very helpful to engineers and line workers.

Many of the new deadend type drawings now show the optional use of    three, 4 � inch (10.8 cm) suspension insulators instead of two 6 inch    (15.2 cm) suspension insulators. Some borrowers prefer to use a single polymer    deadend insulator. Borrowers may continue to use the same deadend insulators that they    have in the past. The 4 � inch (10.8 cm) suspension insulator drawings involve    drawing changes only and do not require a change in computer programs. This option is    explained in detail in the "General Construction Specifications" section of the    new bulletin.

Considering all of the above, the vast majority of the required changes    only require the addition or changing of washers! A lot of borrowers consider washers to    be truck stock and don’t even list them on their material sheets. However, we do    realize that with each unit some borrowers probably include more material, such as armor    rods, ties, and bolt lengths that are not shown on the RUS drawings. An assembly number    conversion table should allow borrowers, in many cases, simply to replace the old number    with a new number for identical or similar construction assemblies.

The following are a few "tricks" that borrowers could employ:
- Distribute some copies of the new bulletin in the engineering office and line shop        several weeks before training and implementation to peak interest and help acclimatize key        personnel.
- When and where possible, insert a new column in computerized forms with the new assembly        numbers next to the old ones. Retain both columns before a conversion is made and as long        afterward as may be useful.
- On staking sheet drawings (and staking sheets when feasible), put the new assembly        number in parenthesis next to the old one for several weeks before the conversion. For        some period after the conversion, reverse the process. (This is the process that has been        used by the NESC to convert from English to metric units.)

For more information on the changes in Bulletin 1728F-803, see    Bulletin 1728F-800, "Assembly Unit Numbers and Standard Format." This    bulletin explains the new numbering format and the reasons why we made the changes.

If you have any information or questions, please call Jim Bohlk,    Electrical Engineer, Distribution Branch, at (202) 720-1967.
 

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