Copper line rebuild project update
The copper line replacement project is nearing the end of the third year of construction. Inching closer to a standing total of 270 miles of replaced copper conductor in the cooperative’s southern service area. In 2024, the project will begin moving north, towards Watford City and the surrounding area. During this project, copper conductor that was the standard of the distribution system nearly 79 years ago, will be replaced with aluminum wire providing a more resilient means of transporting electrons. The new conductor, aluminum conductor steel-reinforced cable, requires reduced spans, or average distance between poles, lessening the weight our hardware must bear providing more reliability and resiliency throughout our entire system.
Engineering & Design
Working a year in advance, the engineering and design process takes place prior to construction, helping engineers form purchase orders and evaluate construction costs. As a capital project, this step is integral in the planning process and includes acquiring, and occasionally, altering right of way (ROW) easements to replace existing infrastructure. With construction projects such as this, McKenzie Electric works to keep the new structures near the same footprint of the poles and hardware set to be replaced.
When the original poles of the project area were set during the infancy of the cooperative, there was little to impede the construction process. As the communities McKenzie Electric serves continue to grow, power line routing alterations may need to be made. During these scenarios, the cooperative strives to find the route that is the most economic for the cooperative and the membership. McKenzie Electric appreciates the cooperation of our members as we further strengthen the distribution system with these upgrades.
Nearing year five
As the five-year project nears the completion date of 2025, a total of 440 miles of overhead distribution will have been rebuilt. This project, alongside the continued efforts of substation expansions, increases the reliability of the electric service McKenzie Electric members have grown accustomed to.