Dams, power houses, generating and peak shaving facilities present their own specialized challenges. Generally speaking, the equipment is usually quite heavy and large, and the working spaces are confined and difficult to access. The controls and relaying tend to be complex and sophisticated. Everything in the area is either energized or contains moving parts and stored energy systems Outages require long lead times to obtain and require careful coordination with the utilities being served. Much of the work must be done while the equipment is still energized and serving loads. Protective relaying and startup must be closely controlled and monitored in order to avoid knocking off the energized systems while bringing the new portion on line. Transformers, switchgear, relay panels and even the equipment needed to handle them, must be brought in disassembled and then assembled in place. Equipment to be removed must be disassembled in place and brought out in small manageable pieces. Often areas are not accessible to heavy lifting equipment such as cranes and fork lifts, so more creative methods have to be employed to handle moving of equipment.
J. L. Malone has performed a number of projects of this type including:
