Preparing for extreme and seasonal weather with NRG’s generation team

Like mayflies in May, you can expect and prepare for seasonal weather. September is the designated month to get ready for autumn winds, winter snowstorms, late spring tornados, and summer storms. Uncertain meteorology due to overlapping seasons and escalating weather intensity call for more vigilant preparedness.

“That’s what drives us,” says Robert Kurelic, Plant Manager at NRGs Cedar Bayou facility. “We do our absolute best to be as prepared as possible.”

Before becoming Plant Manager, Kurelic worked in operations and maintenance, where he was immersed in troubleshooting and repairing individual plant components.  Now he oversees plant operations, including assessments, maintenance, and preparedness for weather events.

Central to preparedness is the safety of the people who keep things running, with a close second being 24/7 functionality of the facility. At NRG, safety is a top priority, both internally and for the communities we serve.

 “I go where our people are and let each one know I’m always there for them. We make sure everything is done safely and that the people doing the work have the answers and the hands-on equipment they need. It’s personal to me,” said Lisa Pope, Safety Specialist at our Limestone facility.

Lisa projects a blend of expertise, forethought, and passion as evidenced by her status as a Certified Safety Health Official (CSHO).

An integral tool to ensure preparation and communication align is the Observed Hazard Reporting program. This is the protocol for all employees to be alert and report potential plant issues. It’s a “see something, say something” policy that starts with the reporting of observed-in-the-field issues. All raised issues are backed by a requisite follow up for further inspection and necessary equipment upgrades or servicing.

“This assures them that we are going to take care of things that impact their daily job functions, especially during extreme conditions” says Pope.

When preparing to take on challenging weather conditions, there’s no better bellwether than past events. 

“We learn something from every one,” says Pope. “During the winter freeze in 2021, we made ice cleats available to our onsite workers — they work. Now, they are part of our winter supply kits. For the summer, we make fresh fruit available daily, along with cooling vests, cooling rags, and cooling inserts that fit inside hard hats.” 

For plant manager Kurelic, being ready for winter and summer requires looking at them differently and addressing unique challenges.

Winter preparation includes creating a thorough planning document that becomes the foundational readiness strategy for power demands in short intense bursts; and freezes that require a slightly more sustained demand for electricity.

Summer, by contrast, is a marathon and means preparing for months of scorching hot days and uncomfortable nights with sustained elevated demand.

“Extreme summer temperatures in Texas are a given. You know what’s coming and you follow proven fundamentals in getting your plant ready,” Kurelic notes.

Kurelic and his team must ensure plant cooling systems are prepped, inspected, and keeping the system cool, as accumulated heat decreases generation equipment efficiency and causes wear.

“We clean coolers and heat exchangers, inspect fans and bearings, check cooling towers. It’s all about cooling, cooling, cooling to get our plant ready for 20-day runs. It’s about having the endurance to sustain.” 

Preparation and effective execution are measured in a metric called the “run rate.” This measures and rates how effective solutions are in keeping power on, mitigating equipment damage, and protecting the team.

Team members must know how to respond to numerous known and hypothetical events. Weather events like hurricanes require employees to remain inside the facility for extended periods, shifts are re-considered, specific training is implemented, awareness protocols are activated, and outside areas are secured.

 “We’re constantly measuring safety performance, along with our production metrics,” said Kurelic. “Yes, we have peak performance goals that relate to our ability to provide power during peak run times. But we always start with safety.”

As we all look to preparing homes and businesses for summer heatwaves, hurricane seasons, and winter snowstorms, there are important lessons from team members like Lisa Pope and Robert Kurelic.

Always be on the lookout for structural and mechanical wear that could fail during severe weather. Put together a four-season plan with necessary supplies and be sure to give thought to family, friends, and neighbors during severe weather events.