We have all had to go through changes and disruptions due to efforts to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Imagine how much worse it might be if electricity went out. That’s exactly what National Grid is worried about. It has now decided to sequester about 50 people in Syracuse that monitor and control the electric grid.
"On March 23 starting at 5:00 p.m., they were on site and we have them sleep here, eat here and they live here, they can't leave the site," Daniel Cammarata said.
Cammarata is the Director of the Transmission Control Room, and he knows this is an extreme measure. But National Grid thought it was the only way to keep the virus out of the control room. When management decided to do it, they asked for volunteers to live onsite 24/7 for as long as the threat lasts.
"We were pretty nervous about asking people, but the operators know what their job is and they know what they signed up for when they took the job. We asked people to volunteer and we had a 100 percent response. Definitely felt good about that, but with that we have to make sure that everyone is comfortrable here," Cammarata said.
The company brought in exercise equipment, cordoned off an outdoor area for recreation, and kept people as happy and healthy as possible. Cammarata notes they want the monitors to be worry-free so they can make sure their families are comfortable at home. He also wants to reassure the public about the reliability of electric and gas service.
"We are as normal as we can be right now in the control center and we can go on as long as this is happening in our community. We are taking steps to make sure that they should not have to worry about this when they are worried about so many other things."
Another example of a workforce sacrificing – in this case living isolated as long as needed. Their efforts will help keep the lights on, keep you working from home, binge watching your shows, communicating with others, and hopefully not having to worry about any power disruption.