Electric distribution asset hierarchy template

A worked example of an electric distribution asset hierarchy: 21 classes in 4 levels, 23 data points and 14 decisions, each linked to the lifecycle stage it supports. It's a starting point built on general industry practice, not on any organization's real data.

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classes: 21
levels: 4
data points: 23
decisions: 14
lifecycle stages: 6

The levels

4 levels, from the whole network down to the part you maintain. Rename them to suit.

Level	What it holds
1. System	The whole network or portfolio. Holds the data points every asset shares.
2. Asset group	A family of assets that are managed, budgeted and reported together.
3. Asset class	Assets alike enough to share a design life, an inspection regime and a cost model.
4. Component	A part that is inspected, maintained or replaced on its own schedule.

The full class outline

Every class, with the data points it defines in italics. A class passes its data points to everything beneath it.

Electric distribution systemEvery asset that delivers power from the substation to the customer.the shared data points below
- SubstationsFacilities that step voltage down and switch circuits.
  - Distribution substationA substation feeding distribution circuits.
    - Power transformerSteps transmission voltage down.Rated capacity, Dissolved gas analysis
    - Circuit breakerInterrupts faults.Operation count
    - Protective relayDetects faults and trips breakers.
    - Battery systemBackup DC power for protection.
- Overhead linesConductors and structures above ground.Circuit ID
  - PoleWood, steel or concrete pole.Pole material, Remaining strength
  - ConductorOverhead wire.Conductor size
  - Overhead transformerPole-mounted transformer.Peak loading
  - Overhead switch and recloserSectionalizing and automatic reclosing devices.
- Underground systemCable and equipment below ground.
  - Underground cablePrimary and secondary cable.Insulation type, Fault count (5 years)
  - Pad-mounted transformerGround-level transformer.
  - SwitchgearUnderground switching cabinets.
  - VaultUnderground enclosures.
- Right of wayCorridors that must be kept clear.Last trim date
  - Vegetation spanA span of line with trees nearby.
- MeteringCustomer meters.
  - Customer meterRevenue meter.Meter type

The shared data points

11 data points defined once, on Electric distribution system, and inherited by every class. Each one carries a reason: the decisions it feeds.

Data point	Type	Feeds decisions
Install dateStarts the asset's life clock. Age, remaining life and renewal timing are all calculated from it.	date	As-built acceptance, Long-term financial forecast
AgeGroups assets by vintage for inspection planning and replacement forecasting.	number · years	Inspection frequency, Long-term financial forecast, Retire or abandon
Expected useful lifeThe design or industry life for this class. Sets when renewal should be planned.	number · years	Long-term financial forecast, Capital renewal program
Remaining useful lifeHow long the asset can keep serving. The basis for the renewal year and the repair-or-replace call.	number · years	Capital renewal program, Repair, rehabilitate or replace
Condition scoreMeasured physical state, 1 (very good) to 5 (very poor). Drives inspection, maintenance and renewal decisions.	number · 1–5	Inspection frequency, Maintenance strategy, Repair, rehabilitate or replace, Retire or abandon
Likelihood of failureHow likely the asset is to fail, from condition, age and failure history. Half of the risk score.	number · 1–5	Risk ranking
Consequence of failureHow much a failure would cost in safety, service, environment and money. The other half of the risk score.	number · 1–5	Risk ranking, Inspection frequency, Maintenance strategy
Risk scoreLikelihood times consequence. Ranks assets so money goes to the highest risk first.	number · LoF × CoF	Risk ranking, Capital renewal program, Repair, rehabilitate or replace, Retire or abandon
Replacement costWhat it would cost to replace today. Feeds the capital plan and the long-term forecast.	number · $	Capital renewal program, Long-term financial forecast, Repair, rehabilitate or replace
Planned rehab / replace yearThe year renewal is planned. Turns risk and remaining life into a schedule and a budget.	number · year	Capital renewal program, Long-term financial forecast
PM / CM ratioShare of maintenance hours that were planned rather than reactive. Shows whether the maintenance strategy is working.	number · %	Maintenance strategy

The decisions, and the lifecycle stages they sit in

9 decisions are shared by every template and 5 are specific to this one. The lifecycle runs Plan, Create, Operate, Maintain, Renew and Dispose.

Decision	Stages	Kind
Risk ranking	Plan › Needs assessment	Shared
Capital renewal program	Plan › Capital planning, Renew › Replace	Shared
Long-term financial forecast	Plan › Capital planning	Shared
Design standards	Create › Design	Shared
As-built acceptance	Create › Construct	Shared
Inspection frequency	Operate › Inspect	Shared
Maintenance strategy	Maintain › Preventive	Shared
Repair, rehabilitate or replace	Maintain › Corrective, Renew › Rehabilitate, Renew › Replace	Shared
Retire or abandon	Dispose › Decommission	Shared
Vegetation management cycle	Maintain › Preventive	Industry
Pole replacement priority	Plan › Needs assessment, Renew › Replace	Industry
Transformer loading review	Operate › Monitor	Industry
Outage restoration priority	Maintain › Corrective	Industry
Reliability improvement plan	Plan › Capital planning	Industry

The Flow map

The same template as a Flow map: lifecycle stages, the decisions made in them and the data points each one needs.

The Electric distribution template in Strata's Flow map: lifecycle stages, the decisions made in them and the data points each decision needs, linked.

How to make it yours

01
Rename the levels
Open Setup › Levels and call each level what your organization calls it.
02
Add your classes
Add the classes you have that the template does not, or import your own list from Excel. Anything you add inherits the shared data points from its parent.
03
Link your own decisions
Open Setup › Decisions to change which decisions each data point feeds and which lifecycle stages they sit in. Gaps are counted for you.