Utility grid and tower upgrade system and method

A method of adding additional circuit capacity to an existing utility tower having existing electrical circuits and a foundation, the method comprising the steps:

• adding an exoskeleton structure to the utility tower and to the foundation;
• adding a bridge bypass frame to the existing tower structure above the existing electrical circuits;
• adding a tower top circuit to the bridge bypass frame above the existing electrical circuits;
• adding transmission line hardware to the top tower circuit;
• and
• wherein portions of the exoskeleton structure can be added to the existing utility tower without deenergizing the existing electrical circuits.

A method of additional circuit capacity to a utility grid having a series of utility towers having a tower configuration with electrical circuits and foundations, the method comprising the following steps:

• evaluating existing tower configurations to determine the applicability of adding additional top section circuits to the existing towers;
• evaluating transmission line upgrade requirements and determining voltage requirements for additional overhead circuits;
• conducting field evaluation to determine the condition of the existing towers and foundations;
• configuring new overhead tower top circuits, exoskeletons, bridge bypass frames, and foundation supports based on information obtained from evaluating tower configurations, transmission line upgrade requirements, voltage requirements and the condition of existing towers and foundations;
• and installing new overhead tower top circuits, exoskeletons, bridge bypass frames, and foundation supports to the existing towers.

A method of upgrading an existing electrical transmission structure, having electrical circuits and a foundation to support the electrical transmission structure, to improve performance and reliability of the existing electrical transmission structure comprising the steps of:

• adding foundation members;
• securing an exoskeleton frame to the electrical transmission structure and connecting the exoskeleton frame to the foundation members;
• and
• wherein portions of the exoskeleton frame and foundation members can be added to the electrical transmission structure without de-energizing the existing electrical circuits.

A method of converting an in-line electrical transmission structure, having electrical circuits and a foundation to support the electrical transmission structure into an angle or dead end electrical transmission structure comprising the steps of:

• adding foundation members;
• securing an exoskeleton frame to the in-line electrical transmission structure and connecting the exoskeleton frame to the foundation members;
• and
• wherein portions of the exoskeleton frame and foundation members can be added to the electrical transmission structure without de-energizing the existing electrical circuits.