11 minute read
OIL AND GAS
by subcusa.com
RRC Earns National Mine Award for DRONE TRAINING PROGRAM
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
The Railroad Commission’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Division (SMRD) has earned national recognition for excellence for its drone training program – training that highlights safety and operational efficiency.
The Interstate Mining Compact Commission recently presented the RRC with its National Mine Safety and Health Training Award in the State Category for Coal Surface Mining during its annual meeting.
The IMCC, which comprises 26 states, noted that the RRC promotes “a safe workplace within the Lone Star State’s mining industry through innovative and effective training programs.”
The award recognized RRC video training that highlights SMRD’s use of drone technology in the field, including pre-and post-flight procedures, drone inspection efficiency, how drones and maintain a safe distance between multi-ton mining equipment and inspectors.
“We are extremely honored to receive this award,” said Brent Elliott, RRC’s Director of the SMRD. “We are not just committed to adopting new technologies that improve on our ability to protect public safety and the environment, but the award shows our willingness to share what we know to help both industry and regulators alike.”
Source: www.rrc.texas.gov
OIL AND GAS RRC Commissioners Vote To Ensure Supply for Texans Relying on Natural Gas in Emergencies
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
Railroad Commission of Texas commissioners recently adopted a new rule that sets priorities for firm gas supplies and transportation during emergencies such as last year’s Winter Storm Uri.
This latest action by the Commission continues efforts to ensure Texans that in energy emergency events, like Uri, their life-saving natural gas for food and heat will continue to flow.
The new curtailment rule is similar to an emergency order commissioners issued during Uri to prioritize natural gas deliveries for human needs, which in turn helped 99.95% of gas utility local distribution residential customers to maintain natural gas service during the storm. Similar to last year’s emergency order, the new rule also cements gas deliveries to electric generation facilities as a top priority.
The curtailment rule is triggered when a gas utility is unable to deliver all the gas it is contractually obligated to deliver (through what’s known as firm contracts) during emergency events and has to curtail its firm customers. In such situations, the rule sets the following In such situations, the rule sets the following order of priorities for firm order of priorities for firm deliveries: deliveries:
1. Human needs customers and local distribution systems which serve human needs customers. 2. Electric generation facilities. 3. Industrial and commercial users of the minimum natural gas required to prevent physical harm and/or ensure critical safety to the plant facilities, plant personnel, or the public when such protection cannot be achieved through the use of alternate fuel. 4. Small industrials and regular commercial loads that use less than 3 million cubic feet of gas per day. 5. Large industrial and commercial users for fuel or as a raw material where an alternate fuel or raw material cannot be used and operation and plant production would be curtailed or shut down completely when natural gas is curtailed. 6. Large industrial and commercial users for fuel or as a raw material where an alternate fuel or raw material can be used and operation and plant production would be curtailed or shut down completely when natural gas is curtailed. 7. Customers that are not covered by the priorities listed above.
The priority list helps ensure the availability of gas for human needs customers, and electricity generation facilities powered by natural gas. Human needs customers to include residences, hospitals, water and wastewater facilities, emergency responder facilities, and locations where people may congregate in an emergency such as schools and places of worship.
“The Commission’s curtailment order during Uri saved countless lives by ensuring the 99% of Texans that needed life-saving natural gas during the freeze – got it,” said RRC Chairman Wayne Christian. “It’s vital to have an action plan for emergencies, and that’s what curtailment does. The Commission today strengthened that plan by placing it in our rules and focusing on firm supply and transport of natural gas. This will give market participants certainty of the plan and encourage them to obtain firm contracts, increasing the reliability of the natural gas system in Texas.”
“One of the fundamental principles of the Railroad Commission of Texas is to prioritize the health and safety of Texans,” said Commissioner Christi Craddick. “Through the adoption of our curtailment order, we have honored the mission of this agency by prioritizing human needs natural gas customers. I am proud of the hard work by agency staff and stakeholders to ensure that natural gas is available to those who need it most during an emergency.”
“As we saw during Winter Storm Uri, it is essential that the delivery of gas is prioritized for human needs and electrical generation in emergency situations,” said Commissioner Jim Wright. “Today’s rulemaking updates longstanding Railroad Commission practices to ensure that those with firm contracts have the gas they need to keep our citizens safe.”
A copy of the adopted rule can be found at www.rrc.texas.gov. The rule goes into effect on Sept. 1, 2022.
Source: www.rrc.texas.gov
Leading in the Utility Industry With SOLIDARITY, INTEGRITY, SAFETY & FAITH
Audrey and Darrell Provo
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
I always aspired to do something great in this field. Whenever I worked for other companies, I prided myself on doing an exceptional job efficiently with the crew and customers’ safety as a top priority. —Darrell Provo Chief Operating Officer
Brothers & Brothers Utility Services LLC (BBUS) is a recognizable and well-respected name across America in the electric and utility fields, delivering safe and quality work across America. With highly skilled and trained professionals, the company’s mission is to keep solidarity, integrity, and safety at the forefront of the utility industry. Under the vision of co-owners, Darrell and Audrey Provo, BBUS is a company that prioritizes quality over quantity.
Through much preparation, prayer, and faith, BBUS officially opened its doors on May 21, 2021. BBUS currently serves 5 states, has 25 years of combined experience, and has serviced 250,000 customers. The company’s impressive client roster includes Eversource Energy, Con Edison, Entergy, and National Grid. BBUS provides turnkey installation and design capabilities for substation projects and also specializes in turnkey services for the construction and maintenance of transmission lines. BBUS serves residential, commercial, and industrial loads with the installation and maintenance of overhead pole lines and underground buried cables. BBUS understands the great importance of customers’ needs to manage their businesses and households, and is committed to restoring electrical power quickly, efficiently, and safely.
Darrell is a highly trained journeyman lineman with 7,000 hours of on-the-job training through the Southwestern Line Constructors Joint Apprenticeship Training Program. He is certified by the Department of Labor as a journeyman lineman. Darrell holds various certifications in the utility industry such as Quanta Helicopter Certified, Certified Energized Conductor, Pole Top & Bucket Rescue, and OSHA 10 w/ET&D. “I always aspired to do something great in this field. Whenever I worked for other companies, I prided myself on doing an exceptional job efficiently with the crew and customers’ safety as a top priority,” said Darrell. “Through my experience, there grew a desire to run my own company that would stand on the same principles used while I was working for other utility companies.” Audrey was the rock supporting Darrell while he was building his career and still is a rock and significant component as she leads BBUS’s foundation for success. She has a genuine love for people and loves how with focus, faith, and the right perspective, a challenging situation can have a positive outcome. Audrey has worked in various management and leadership positions, with a background in human resources and a concentration in mental health. And with 10 years of experience managing her own company, her business management skills have proven invaluable for BBUS.
SOLIDARITY, INTEGRITY,
SUBC: How does BBUS stand out from competitors?
BBUS: BBUS prides itself on catering to our employees while maintaining great customer service. In return, our employees are dedicated and committed to completing the tasks assigned. Our hands-on experience is part of BBUS’s foundation. We are familyowned and run.
SUBC: As a company with clients nationwide, what is your "special" approach to safe and efficient service to restore power?
BBUS: Being reliable, safe, and providing quality work are our core values. To assure these values are being exercised, communication is the key. With each project, BBUS understands what is expected of us and we in turn communicate this clearly to our employees. We ensure each employee understands their tasks as well as involve ourselves in the ever-changing safety aspect of our trade. We lead by example when it comes to safety education, so our employees live it as we do, safely servicing clients nationwide.
SUBC: Is there a storm/situation that was especially challenging that you can mention and what was your approach to a safe and efficient solution for this challenge?
BBUS: Hurricane IDA was challenging for our employees and management staff. After the devastation hit Louisiana, BBUS was assigned the Tickfaw area to restore power. No power, hotels, or restaurants were available in the surrounding areas. Our team banded together during those 21 days and found food and essentials during that time. We had to ensure our team received the appropriate rest and meals while maintaining a safe and productive work environment. And in the midst of those 21 days, Darrell and I tested positive for COVID-19, so we had to quarantine while making sure the project was completed and our employees were cared for. At the end of the 21 days, BBUS completed the task, over 100,000 customers’ power was restored, there were no accidents or injuries, and every employee made it home safely.
SUBC: Long- and short-term goals?
BBUS: Long-term, BBUS desires to build one of the largest diverse utility companies in the industry. Short-term, we aim to bring more diversity and open the door to our inner-city youth, which will spark an interest in our trade. We are dedicated to seeing our youth and the community succeed as a whole, and are hopeful that BBUS will contribute to the growth and betterment of areas and individuals in need.
SUBC: Any certifications or memberships that you want to mention?
BBUS: Darrell and I are both members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). BBUS is a member of the Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC). Our company is also certified as a HUB, SBE, BOBE, and WSBE.
The safety measures, supervision, and staff are extremely helpful and on time. They made me feel like my safety was always the first priority.
—Ahmad M. Client Testimonial
BBUS is family-owned and faith sits at the center of their success and future dreams, with Genesis 1:3 as one of the Provo’s favorite Scriptures which reads, “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
You can find Brothers & Brothers Utility Services LLC on the web at www.bbusutilities.com. For more information, please call 1-888-958-5463 or email info@bbusutilities.com.
