Lineworkers work in frigid temps to keep lines humming
Working outside through North Dakota winters could
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CEC lineworker John Frey works on bypassing the breakers before they can be removed and inspected. |
never be described as pleasant. Even on those “warm” days when the temperature reaches a balmy 15 degrees, the wind generally pulls any comfort right out of the air. Lineworkers for Capital Electric Cooperative (CEC) work through the cold because they know what has to be done to keep the lights on for consumers.
The winter months remain busy for the CEC lineworkers. Recently, they were doing maintenance on the breakers at the Moffit substation. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to keep the system running and avoid potential problems.
A crew of five lineworkers, with nearly 50 years of combined experience, is on hand to make sure the process goes smoothly. As with everything else they do, they know safety comes first. As they operate, certain steps must be followed. First, they place a temporary fuse above the breaker as a bypass mechanism. Then the line to the breaker is unhooked and bypassed to the fuse. The process continues as one lineworker loosens the bolts on the breaker and another moves in on a bucket to hook a chain to it.
The 80-pound breaker is then lifted to a nearby truck and hauled back to the shop to be thoroughly inspected and tested. The oil is changed and any worn parts are replaced. The process is completed in one day, as the breakers are re-installed at the substation that afternoon.
In addition to substation maintenance, the crews spend some of the winter months patrolling the distribution lines on the system to ensure there are no weaknesses. Capital Electric has 2,609miles of line carrying electricity to 14,732 meters. It only takes one minor problem to cause an outage for a good number of those meters, so keeping the system in good working order is essential.
It would be easy to take for granted that maintenance goes smoothly each time. Even in the cold, their experience shows and co-op members can be assured that our lineworkers are the best at what they do. We can all appreciate the outstanding job the crew does to keep the power moving along to everyone.