As Slope Electric Cooperative crews begin preparing for summer construction projects across the service area, the cooperative is sharing updates on the work keeping line crews busy. Mild weather throughout the winter has allowed crews to make strong progress on various projects, including pole changeouts and the installation of outage mitigation technology.
Each year, Slope Electric crews conduct line patrol, an essential inspection of infrastructure across the service area. This process helps identify potential issues early so repairs can be made before larger problems develop. During line patrol, crews assess whether equipment requires routine maintenance or immediate attention and complete necessary repairs along the way. Thanks to the mild weather, crews have been able to address many of these needs, such as repairing broken conductor strands, fixing loose or missing hardware, and installing new anchors and guy markers.
With assistance from 3C Construction, crews also worked throughout the winter to replace power poles identified during line patrol or through pole testing conducted late last year. In addition, Slope Electric crews recently completed their biannual voltage regulator inspections, which help ensure members receive safe and consistent voltage to their services.
Alongside these maintenance efforts, crews have focused on outage mitigation by installing ReliaWrap on poles that support transformers, protective devices, or underground cable risers—areas where animal contact most often occurs. ReliaWrap is a smooth plastic covering that prevents animals such as squirrels and raccoons from climbing poles, helping reduce one of the leading causes of power disruptions.
Earlier this year, contractors also completed tree trimming throughout the service area. This proactive effort, guided by line inspection data and member reports, plays a key role in reducing outages and brief service interruptions during windy conditions. It is also an important part of Slope Electric’s wildfire mitigation plan.
Because of the unusually mild winter, many of these projects—typically scheduled for spring and summer—were completed ahead of schedule. This progress allows the cooperative to focus more fully on upcoming summer projects. As work continues, Slope Electric encourages members to report any infrastructure concerns using the online form or by calling the office at 701-579-4191. When possible, providing photos can help the operations team quickly identify and respond to issues.