SurvalentONE FLISR has been a game-changer for CHELCO. In a matter of seconds, FLISR restores power to thousands of customers, drastically reducing outages and improving reliability. We’ve not only enhanced our grid's performance but also saved on operational costs ... approximately $20,000 per minute of avoided downtime, and $200,000 in one month of severe weather alone.
The Challenge
CHELCO’s service area in Florida’s Panhandle is highly vulnerable to severe weather events like hurricanes and storms. Extended outages from these events disrupted power supply for its 70,000 members, negatively affecting key performance indicators (SAIDI and SAIFI). Before automation, manual restoration methods were time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. CHELCO needed a solution to reduce restoration times, improve reliability, and manage voltage across its network efficiently.
The Solution
In 2021, CHELCO implemented SurvalentONE FLISR to automate fault detection, isolation, and service restoration. The centralized, model-based system detects faults in real time, isolates affected areas, and restores power automatically, minimizing downtime. The solution’s integration with CHELCO’s existing radio frequency network eliminated the need for costly fiber infrastructure.
During a severe storm in January 2024, SurvalentONE FLISR restored service in just 33 seconds, reducing what could have been a prolonged outage to a momentary interruption. This efficiency helped CHELCO save approximately $200,000 in operational costs and avoided downtime, further enhancing its grid performance and customer satisfaction.
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CHELCO) is a not-for-profit electric cooperative headquartered in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Established in 1940, CHELCO serves more than 70,000 accounts across Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, and Santa Rosa counties in the Florida Panhandle. The cooperative provides electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial members, including Eglin Air Force Base under a utility privatization contract.
