50+ Years Underground

For utility engineers and substation designers, selecting grounding conductors means considering not only electrical performance, but also long-term durability, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and compatibility with industry-standard installation practices.

In this interview, a veteran substation engineer with more than 35 years of experience discusses the long-term performance of Copperweld^® Copper-Clad Steel (CCS) grounding conductors in electric power substations. Drawing from decades of field experience, he explains how CCS conductors have been used throughout grounding grids, equipment connections, fence grounding, surge arrester connections, shield wire structures, cable trenches, control houses, and duct bank installations. He also describes the conductors as durable, easy to install, compatible with standard grounding connectors and exothermic welding methods, and well-established throughout the utility industry.

Perhaps most notable is his firsthand account of excavating Copperweld CCS grounding conductors that had remained in service for approximately 50 years. Despite decades underground, the conductors exhibited only normal surface oxidation while maintaining their structural integrity and performance. This real-world experience reinforces what utilities have relied on for generations: Copper-Clad Steel grounding conductors provide long-term corrosion resistance, mechanical durability, and dependable performance in demanding substation environments.