AUGUST 2024 UPDATE:
CREWS MAKE GREAT PROGRESS ON SYSTEM REBUILD PROJECTS
Firelands Electric has allocated nearly $10 million for the current 4-year work plan, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025. The co-op is also committed to replacing two substations over the next five years. Despite major inflation in the industry, the cooperative is striving to remain on track with its plans for essential upgrades.
Another key investment for improved reliability is trimming trees along co-op’s distribution system. Firelands’ four-year tree-trimming cycle is considered as one of the best in the utility industry. The tree-trimming budget for 2024 has been increased to $900,000 for 385 miles of lines, including three townships and 58 miles that will be trimmed on a new three-year cycle.
Firelands Electric crews and third-party contractors have made considerable progress on the cooperative’s current system construction work plan. These projects will help maintain and improve reliability; add more backfeed capability between substations; and increase load capacity for members’ future electricity needs. The plan also includes the replacement of aging poles, conductors, and other outdated equipment to reduce safety concerns and prevent power interruptions.
Earlier this year, 43 decaying or damaged poles identified during Firelands’ most recent pole inspection were replaced. An additional 50 poles were retired along a 3.6-mile span on Township Road 856 in Clear Creek Township, Ashland County. Replaced with 62 new poles and a heavier grade aluminum conductor steel reinforced wire (ACSR), this updated section of three-phase service will provide members in the area with improved reliability, while also increasing voltage for future growth. The installation of additional poles during this and other recent line rebuild projects are part of the co-op’s efforts to make our equipment more resistant to storms and extreme weather events.
Additional work was completed in southern Ashland County, in the Green Township area. This particular projected involved the update of 4.2 miles of line and 128 poles. Wherever possible, power lines and poles set a significant distance from the roadway, or in other hard-to-reach areas, were relocated closer to the road for easier access in the event of an outage. The new poles are also taller to improve ground clearance for farm equipment and provide space for the future attachment of telecommunications lines. While completing the rebuild in this area, crews also cleared trees in several densely wooded sections to reduce the risk of future power interruptions.
Firelands has continued to move forward with its workplan, including rebuilding an additional 18.2 mile of line located in Mifflin, Mohican, and Vermillion townships in Ashland County and Mifflin and Monroe townships in Richland County. Having a workplan in place is essential for supplying our members with safe, reliable power today — and for years to come. Whether this plan includes routine maintenance and upgrades, or addresses an unexpected outage, you can rest assured that Firelands Electric Cooperative is working hard to keep your lights on.
UPDATES TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY IN AREAS PRONE TO TREE-RELATED DAMAGE
Mother Nature can be a formidable force, and it’s next to impossible to control the effects she can have on an electric distribution system. Storms have the potential to wreak havoc on power lines, utility poles, and transformers. And while we can’t control Mother Nature, Firelands Electric Cooperative is committed to maintaining reliability, including taking measures to keep the impact of extreme weather events to a minimum.
For starters, we take a proactive approach to tree-trimming in an effort to prevent fallen branches from coming into contact with power lines and creating outages. We also replace or repair damaged poles, wiring, and other equipment as needed. One of the cooperative’s current projects takes these precautionary steps even further, however.
Some portions of Firelands Electric’s southern service territory have very dense — and very old — trees and other vegetation, making these neighborhoods more prone to outages during a storm. To improve reliability in these areas, the cooperative is installing the Hendrix spacer cable system from Marmon Utility in several locations near Lucas and Perrysville.
Unlike traditional configurations, the Hendrix system uses insulated wiring. It also replaces wood utility poles with ones constructed from ductile iron, which is known for its resistance to impact. These features help power lines and poles be less susceptible to damage from fallen trees. The most obvious benefit from these updates is improved reliability and fewer outages. The changes will also reduce interruptions in service when line crews are performing repairs or switching power lines to backfeed from other substations.
There are some downfalls to the Hendrix system, however. First and foremost is the higher cost of the equipment itself. The Hendrix system is also more time-consuming to install, maintain, and repair, further increasing the overall cost. While this makes it unfeasible to install in every location in our territory, the savings resulting from fewer incidences of damaged equipment and reduced overtime from line crews makes financial sense for using the system in these outage-prone areas of Firelands Electric’s southern territory.
There is one difference between traditional installations and the Hendrix system that is crucial to keep in mind. Since the wiring is insulated, if a tree knocks a power line on a Hendrix system down, the wire will still be energized. This is just another reason to NEVER approach a fallen power line — the risk of injury or electrocution is just too great. To help protect our communities, Firelands Electric has been working in the areas where these updates are being made to ensure that first responders understand the importance of taking the necessary precautions if they encounter a downed power line.
While installing the new Hendrix spacer system will take some time, it will ultimately save the cooperative — and our members — money and reduce the aggravation of power outages.
To view additional photos of the co-op’s recently completed work plan projects, visit www.flickr.com/photos/firelandsec/albums.