Message from Andrew Sonsalla, Operations Manager
Each year, our operations and engineering team diligently compiles a work plan to improve our system’s reliability. Projects are included in a plan for various reasons, from aging infrastructure to an increase in reported outages or alignment with the cooperative’s long-term goals. One project in this year’s work plan was updating the New England substation’s east circuit along the Bomber Club Road.
This summer, crews installed 14 miles of underground three-phase power line and converted all overhead power lines along and across the road. Upgrades were made based on the age, condition and historical outage data of the three-phase overhead power line.
Over the years, line crews have frequently worked in adverse weather and conditions to repair this specific line. Converting the line to underground will reduce weather-related outages and the need for restoration during extreme weather. It also improves reliability and reduces outages for our members, and ultimately decreases operational expenses. Replacing the overhead with underground also removes the hazard of overhead power lines and utility poles along field edges and over roads, where farm equipment can sometimes have clearance issues.
Converting overhead line to underground also works toward objectives in our wildfire mitigation plan, which aims at reducing the potential for Slope Electric Cooperative’s infrastructure to become the source of ignition for a fire. Making updates to this area also advanced Slope Electric’s long-term goal of burying main three-phase tie lines and feeders, which will reduce system outages.
Slope Electric is proud to make investments that improve reliability for our members. We look forward to bringing more of these projects to communities across our service territory in the coming years, helping to reduce outages, improve service reliability and ensure our members have access to safe and dependable electric services.