This month’s department update is from MVEC Operations Director, Dan Schulte.
Spring is here and with the warmer weather, comes maintenance work at your coop. Maintenance is an important investment at MVEC—it ensures that we are able to continue to provide you with reliable and safe electricity as well as reliable fiber internet. Maintenance extends to all areas of the cooperative—from our facilities to our fleet and obviously to our electric and fiber plant (assets used to distribute power and internet to members). Each year, plant maintenance activities account for approximately 25% of the Cooperative’s non-power supply operating expenses. Below are just a few of the key types of maintenance we are currently performing at MVEC:
Pole Testing: MVEC has subcontracted with Badgerland Utility Solutions, LLC from Wisconsin, to inspect power poles (which are on a 10-year inspection cycle) and underground utilities throughout MVEC’s service territory. So far this year,
5,030 poles have been tested. Pole testing and utility inspection helps to ensure the distribution equipment is safe and reliable.
Detail Line Inspection: MVEC’s power line system is on a 7-year inspection cycle, meaning MVEC linemen perform detailed line inspections on five substations each year (we inspect each structure, one by one) to make repairs and upgrades.
Vegetation Management: This time of year, you will see our crews (and, in some cases, our contractors) trimming trees and conducting vegetation management throughout our service area. Tree trimming around power lines helps keep people safe and can increase the reliability of service when storms hit. Trees are one of the most common causes of electric service outages and time spent clearing trees from power lines can result in extended periods of outage time. Clearing underbrush is equally important for efficient power restoral when power lines are on the ground.