The Struggle

11 Jun 2016 - 2 comments | Translate title into English

Is anyone else having the same problems? It doesn't affect me at all, it only affects the hobby. The Delmarva Peninsula that I once loved a decade ago for its old ESPSCo. construction and being rural is no more. Delmarva Power and Choptank Electric, and even a ton of municipal utilities are rebuilding all their old lines and equipment. The peninsula is becoming more populated. I'm sure there are more of you out there with the same thing going through their minds such as Andrew and the fact that CL&P is no more, or David witnessing his town being transformed into an ugly transmission corridor as new giant monopoles are installed.

Comments

David Dahle

Justin and I have both noticed Xcel Energy has basically handed down orders to get rid of as many 4160V AND delta systems as feasible.

MDU has also been pushing forward on moving the Bismarck / Mandan distribution system off the old 41.6kV double circuit loop (which is now three discontinuous segments) to the 115kV system - even Capital Electric is doing the same with their rural Burleigh County subs closer to Bismarck.

Otter Tail Power has apparently begun a push towards standardizing on 12.5kV - I completely missed the fact they rebuilt Rugby in the 2000s and of course they just did Bottineau last year, and the tiny hamlet of Dunning a few weeks ago. Devils Lake is the last "division town" still running 100% 4160V, and that can't be the case much longer given they tore down the concrete pad bank at the school for the deaf there.

Even the munis here in SD are ditching their decrepit 2400V and 4160V systems in favor of underground 12.5kV.

I think us powerline geeks are where the railfans were in the 1950s - watching the much-beloved steam locomotives give way to the now standard diesel locomotives (even those first-generation diesel locomotives are now bygone antiques).

7 years ago.

Power Lines

The old 4.8kV systems in CT seem to be hanging in there for the most part - I have not seen very many voltage upgrades in the past few years. Quite a few poles on heavier-duty lines have been replaced by EVERSOURCE, however, with the fiberglass armed 35kV stuff.

One thing I've noticed, and should photograph some time, is that EVERSOURCE has been inspecting and replacing some H-frames on several old 115kV lines. Interestingly, though, the new H-frames are custom built to match the various designs of the originals!

7 years ago.

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The Struggle