What has 92 feet and is red all over? Dawson PPD’s newest digger derrick.
The latest addition to the District’s fleet boasts a reach of up to 92 feet, helping our lineworkers reach 70-foot-tall transmission poles with ease. Dawson PPD’s electrical grid upgrade plans include work on several transmission projects in the coming years.
Before acquiring this digger derrick, Dawson PPD rented cranes or hired contractors to complete some of these jobs. The digger derrick eliminates expensive crane rentals and provides long-term cost savings for customers. Dawson PPD anticipates savings to be realized within a year or two.
Dawson PPD’s fleet consists of 123 pieces of equipment, including 12 bucket trucks, 5 digger derricks, 16 maintenance trucks, 3 foreman trucks and a partridge in a pear tree. Okay, maybe not that last part.
The District typically keeps vehicles in its fleet for 10 years, depending on the number of hours the equipment has been used. By monitoring the usage hours and considering feedback from Dawson PPD’s mechanics, the District is able to plan and budget for new vehicles on a schedule.
This planned rotation of vehicles ensures Dawson PPD has the latest, most efficient equipment while keeping costs down for our ratepayers.
OTHER NEWS
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The average Nebraska residential cost per kilowatt hour of electricity was about 10 cents in 2012. In 2020, that cost rose to just 11 cents.
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Nancy Davenport is retiring after 37 years of service.
Testing poles with science
Testing wooden poles helps the District ensure reliability and long life of its equipment, saving customers money in the long run.