With each copper theft costing an average $6,000 in labor and repairs, surveillance protection of substations at CU as designed by NetWatch, Inc. is a model for the Presidential proclamation declaring November National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month
Axis Communications announced a model project for National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience highlighting the City Utilities of Springfield Missouri's use of thermal and pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) Axis IP cameras to protect unmanned power substations from copper wire theft and improve staff safety to ensure continuous flow of electricity for customers.
With the scrap value of copper climbing to more than $3 per pound, each theft costs CU an average of $6,000 in labor and repairs. Cut wires and the risk of electrocution also endanger the lives of CU staff, thieves and any curious persons. Within the first month of operation, the new IP camera system helped the utility company alert police to four separate incidents at one of the most highly targeted substations.
Axis thermal network cameras used to protect the perimeter can detect potential intruders at night while high resolution IP cameras provide visual verification to help reduce false alarms.
CU worked with Springfield, Missouri-based systems integrator NetWatch, to create a comprehensive, yet cost-effective digital video security system with a combination of thermal and day/night Axis network cameras.AXIS Q1921-E Thermal Network Cameras allow the community-owned utility company to remotely monitor its 47 substations from a central location 24 hours a day without the added cost of lighting. For substations located in residential areas, the thermal cameras also help CU avoid any concerns about light pollution.
The recent Presidential proclamation declaring November 2013 National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month stressed that infrastructure was the “backbone of the national and economic security,” and its protection is essential to the future health and stability of the nation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation identified copper theft in particular as a threat to the country's electrical infrastructure – both in terms of the flow of electricity and cost of repairs. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported more than 32,000 claims for copper theft from 2010 to 2012 – a 36% increase from 2009 to 2010.