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South Dakota line crews assist with Nebraska storm repairs

More than two dozen utility workers from East River Electric Power Cooperative and Sioux Valley Energy will assist with power line repairs in central Nebraska, following a New Year's weekend ice and wind storm.

Dawson Public Power District, based in Lexington, Neb., is requesting the mutual aid. A main 69-kV transmission line that feeds its customers was heavily damaged by the storm. East River is sending nine line workers, a mechanic and a warehouse clerk to rebuild 10 miles of H-structure in the foothills near Kearney, Neb.

Former East River member services employee Dave Behle, who now works for Dawson, recommended his manager call East River on Monday for assistance. East River is sending a variety of vehicles and replacement materials, with the crews leaving Madison on Tuesday morning. Because of the ice, snow and difficult terrain, removing the damaged powerlines and replacing them is expected to take more than a week.

Dawson will also receive assistance from 15 Sioux Valley Energy (SVE) employees. Some will assist East River crews with the transmission rebuild while other SVE crews will repair downed distribution lines. The 14 line workers, one warehouse clerk and support vehicles are from the Colman, Brandon and Pipestone service centers.

In addition to East River and Sioux Valley Energy, other Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in South Dakota are also sending crews to assist Nebraska public utilities with storm repairs. More than 65 people from 10 South Dakota electric cooperatives are heading south to help power restoration efforts at three Nebraska public power districts.

The Nebraska utilities were hit hard by a Dec. 31 ice storm that toppled hundreds of poles and left thousands of people without power. The South Dakota crews will be assisting with repairs at Dawson Public Power District in Lexington, Neb., Elkhorn Rural Public Power District in Battle Creek, Neb., and North Central Public Power District in Creighton, Neb.

Elkhorn PPD will receive 25 workers and equipment from five South Dakota cooperatives: Central Electric Cooperative in Mitchell, Dakota Energy Cooperative in Huron, Rosebud Electric Cooperative in Gregory, Union County Electric Company in Elk Point, and West Central Electric Cooperative in Murdo.

North Central PPD will receive 17 workers and equipment from four South Dakota cooperatives: Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association in Tabor, Clay Union Electric Corporation in Vermillion, Southeastern Electric Cooperative in Marion, and Cherry-Todd Electric Cooperative in Mission.

While damage assessments continue, Dawson PPD has suffered significant damage to its transmission and distribution system. In one area, more than 10 miles of transmission line is reported down and at least 16 substations have limited or no transmission service to them. Dawson PPD estimates that approximately 1,200 customers are without power. Dawson Public Power District serves over 22,000 meters using over 5,600 miles of power lines. Pictures of the most recent storm damage can be seen at their Web site at www.dawsonpower.com.

Elkhorn Rural Public Power District supports more than 2,500 miles of line and 8,400 consumers, primarily in the rural Madison County area.

Elkhorn Public Power District of Battle Creek, Neb., had about 4,100 customers without power on Jan. 1. The majority of Elkhorn’s service area from the west side of Norfolk to west of Elgin and north to Neligh is without power. Elkhorn estimates more than 400 poles are down in their service territory. Outside crews and contractors are assisting.

North Central Public Power District is a public utility and political subdivision of the state of Nebraska. North Central PPD serves over 4,800 customers in parts of Knox, Antelope, Pierce and Holt Counties. We also maintain 1,475 miles of overhead distribution lines and 109 miles of underground lines.

The South Dakota crews are being coordinated through the South Dakota Rural Electric Association in Pierre, S.D.

Additional information on the impact of the ice storms on Nebraska utilities can be found at www.nppd.com.