Message From Operations: Ensuring Reliability

MESSAGE FROM OPERATIONS: PROGRESSING SAFETY AND RELIABILITY 

Roughrider Electric Cooperative continues to dedicate time and resources to strengthening the electric grid in its service area. Over the past few months crews wrapped up and continued various projects that focus on safety and reliability to members. 

Pole testing was conducted across the system early this fall. Each year, Roughrider Electric aims to test about ten percent of the utility poles on its system.  Pole testing is crucial for maintaining the reliability and safety of our system. As pole were flagged for upgrades and replacement, crews made necessary infrastructure updates. 

In the eastern part of Roughrider Electric’s system near Hazen upgrades have been made to ensure safer road crossings. Due to the large equipment travel and frequent buildings that move along the highways, Roughrider Electric continues to reduce overhead power lines at crossing.  The cooperative has worked to replace overhead power lines at highway crossings with underground cable. This allows for safer travel for traffic along these roads that often see industrial traffic. 

To further ensure reliability this winter 13-miles of overhead power line has been converted to underground cable southeast of Richardton. This stretch of power line saw repeated outages especially during icy and windy conditions which wore the power line down. Through collaboration with the engineering department the section of line was converted to underground this summer. Installing underground helped alleviate wear and weather condition factors to the power lines. 

Throughout the fall and into the winter as weather allows contractors will be building 12-miles of 115 kv   transmission line from the near Manning from Snowy River Substation to Knife River Substation. This addition will increase voltage volume which adds additional load capacity to the system and further ensuring reliability. 

As winter progresses, crews will be conducting line patrol. This means you may see Roughrider Electric marked vehicles and side-by-sides. Line patrol helps the operations identify parts of our system that may be in need of maintenance and replacement. If you have any questions regarding line patrol or see something that needs the cooperative’s attention, call the office at 800-748-5533.