Primary 2025 work plan components:

• Tree trimming in the Sharpsburg, St. Henry, Coldwater, Chickasaw, Lake, and Moulton service areas. Tree pruning is performed on a five-year cycle throughout the co-op’s 1,536 miles of power line. Trees and branches are a primary cause of power outages and blinking lights.
• Pole testing will take place in the Amanda and Jonestown substation area. All 33,000 of Midwest Electric’s poles are tested on a 10-year cycle for sturdiness and reliability. Typically, less than 1% fail the test, and those are replaced.
• Purchase new equipment, including meters, transformers, line re-closers, voltage regulators, and poles.
• Additional information technology (IT) hardware and software will be added as technology expands deeper into our electric operations areas, such as digital electric meters, SCADA, Distribution Automation, and remote monitoring and control. This will include a continued focus on proactive cybersecurity measures.
• A new bucket truck will continue to keep our fleet ready to respond to system outages and daily tasks. Keeping our fleet updated helps cut the costs of expensive repairs and reduce vehicle usage during prolonged maintenance and repair periods.
• Cooling fans will be added to the Rockport and Noble substations to aid in increased capacity.

“Our engineering team excels at anticipating future growth and ensuring reliable power for our members, while our operations crews are committed to restoring power safely and efficiently,” says CEO Matt Berry.

For updates on construction throughout the year, follow Midwest Electric on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and our website.

Have questions about upcoming construction in your area? Give Midwest Electric’s office a call at 800-962-3830.