Construction Projects
Electric usage among East River’s membership has increased over the last 10 years and is expected to continue at an increased rate.
To keep up with this demand additional infrastructure must be installed so that the likelihood of overloads will be reduced and alternate sources of power can be provided to homes and businesses in the service area.
In addition to new infrastructure, East River is rebuilding and upgrading its existing electrical infrastructure so as to continue to provide reliable electric service to its members well into the future.
Information concerning current projects is provided here. As these projects move through their development and construction phases we will work to update their progress. For more information contact Dan Wall, Ron Golden, Kurt Donelan, or Tony Englert by calling 605-256-4536 or by emailing: transmission@eastriver.coop.
Click here for a printable version of the System Map
Construction Projects Summary
1. Lynd Substation
This new 7500 KVA 69/12.47 substation is needed by Lyon Lincoln Electric Cooperative to serve the growing loads in the south west Marshall, Minnesota area. Major construction was completed in 2009. Final work and energization is scheduled for late 2010.
2. Summit to Rauville Tie Line
This 20.5 mile 69 KV tie line is needed to increase the reliability of the Florence, Rauville, and Waverly substation now on a radial line and to allow for the future rebuild of old lines that serve this area. Right of way acquisition has been completed and construction activity commence during the week of May 17th. This project is scheduled for completion prior to October 1, 2010.
3. Ortley Line Tap
This new one mile 69 kV line tap will connect the new Ortley Substation with East River’s 69 KV transmission system. Construction of this project will occur in conjunction with the work on the Summit to Rauville Tie Line project.
4. Ortley Substation
This new 2500 KVA 69/12.47 substation is needed by Codington-Clark Electric Cooperative to meet load growth and enhance power quality in the northeast corner of Codington-Clark Electric’s service area. Construction of this project will occur in conjunction with the work on the Ortley Line Tap. Energization of this substation will occur in early 2011.
5. Akron Line Tap Rebuild
A portion of the existing 69 kV line serving the City of Akron, Iowa crosses the Big Sioux River. At its current location, erosion is endangering the integrity of the line. 2 miles of the line will be relocated to Hwy 48 to eliminate this hazard. Relocation of East River’s portion of the line, the portion located on the South Dakota side of the Big Sioux River, was completed early in July, 2010. That portion of the line located on the Iowa side of the river and owned by the City of Akron is scheduled for construction later this year.
6. Milbank Line Rebuild
Immediately following the ice storm of 2005 those portions damaged in the storm were rebuilt and upgraded. Now an additional three mile section will be rebuilt and upgraded to provide additional capacity in the future. Construction is scheduled to commence late in 2010 after the crops have been harvested. Completion should be with in six weeks of commencement.
7. Harrisburg Substation Conversion
Major growth in residential, commercial and industrial energy usage is occurring in the Sioux Falls area. In 2001, an in-depth study of the area surrounding Sioux Falls that is served by East River member systems was completed. This study found East River’s east loop around Sioux Falls needs to be converted from 69 kV to 115 kV to adequately serve the increasing demand.
In 2010 East River will complete its work to convert this substation from 69 kV to 115 kV. This work will include changing out the relays, arresters, and other equipment.
8. Prairie Bell Line Tap
This four mile 69 kV line tap will connect the new Prairie Bell substation (located at the Lewis and Clark water treatment plant currently under construction) to East River’s transmission system. Right of way acquisition work is on going. Construction is scheduled to begin late in 2010 or early in 2011 with completion prior to July 1, 2011.
9. Prairie Bell Substation
This new 69 kV substation will serve the new Lewis and Clark water treatment plant. Construction is scheduled to commence in September of this year with completion prior to July 1, 2011.
10. McCook Lake Line Tap
This 8 mile 69 kV line tap will connect the new McCook Lake substation to East River’s transmission system at the Jefferson substation. Survey, design and right of way acquisition work has been completed. Construction is scheduled to begin late in August.
11. McCook Lake Substation
This 7,500 KVA 69 kV substation will serve the residential growth occurring in the southern portion of Union County Electric Cooperative’s service area. Major construction work has been completed. Final work and energization is scheduled for 2011.
Major growth in residential, commercial and industrial energy usage is occurring in the Sioux Falls area. In 2001, an in-depth study of the area surrounding Sioux Falls that is served by East River member systems was completed. This study found East River’s east loop around Sioux Falls needs to be converted from 69 kV to 115 kV to adequately serve the increasing demand.
In 2007, another in-depth study of the growth around Sioux falls and its impact on East River’s electrical system and its ability to continue to provide reliable electric service identified the need for a tie line between the Western Area Power Administration’s Sioux Falls high voltage substation and East River’s existing Rowena substation. Survey work for the project is being completed at this time. Engineering design and ROW work for this project is beginning now. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2011.
13. Western to Rowena to Corson Line Tap
Western/Rowena to Corson Tie line is a new 2 mile long 115 kV transmission line which will connect to the existing Corson substation, which is now on a radial line, to the new Western to Rowena transmission line. In so doing a second delivery source to East River’s Corson substation will be created providing added reliability to the electric system in the rapidly growing area in South Dakota. Right of way work to acquire easements for this project is taking place now. Construction is scheduled for 2011.
14. Hartford to Parker/Fodness Tie Line
This tie line is part of the long range plan for serving the growing loads on the west side of Sioux Falls. This 15 mile tie line will be designed and constructed for 115 kV but will be initially operated at 69 kV and will connect the existing Hartford substation to East River’s Fodness Substation to Parker line tap. Survey work for this project has been completed. A public meeting was held in August to inform land owners along the line route of the project. Right of way work to acquire easements for this project has commenced. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2011.
15. Cresbard Substation Rebuild
This 69/12.5 kV substation, built in 1982, has surface ground water issues resulting in tipping foundations on all structures within the substation. East River intends to regrade the substation site to correct the water issue and then build a new substation at the site. This work is scheduled to begin during the second half of 2010 with final energization in 2011.
16. Watertown South By-Pass
The South Dakota Department of Transportation is building a new highway by-pass around the south side of Watertown, SD. East River has an existing 69 kV over head transmission line that needs to be relocated to accommodate the new highway by-pass route. A Force Account agreement with the State DOT for this work has been completed. The design work for this project is taking place now. Construction is scheduled to begin late in 2010.
17. Roscoe Substation Rebuild
This 69/12.5 kV substation, built in 1966, has been adversely impacted over the years by frost, drainage, and other weather related conditions to the point that the substation needs to be rebuilt to maintain system reliability and operability. During 2012, East River will completely rebuild and update this substation. Survey and substation design work is taking place at this time.
18. Groton to Mansfield Rebuild
East River, in its current four year work plan, has begun a long range effort to rebuild existing transmission lines that because of their condition and limited capacity abilities need to be rebuilt. The Groton to Mansfield transmission line, constructed prior to 1954 is one of those lines. This line, construction mainly on the quarter lines will be relocated to a location along the public roads as this will make it easier for maintenance work to be performed as well as facilitate quicker response times to outages. Survey work for this project has been completed. A public meeting was held in August to provide information to land owners along the line route. Construction of this project is scheduled for 2011.
