Dawson Public Power District must maintain lines and equipment so that your lights stay on. In order to get this work done, line workers need access to Dawson PPD equipment.
What does this mean?
At times, Dawson PPD employees need to be on customer property to be near the District’s poles, power lines, meters, load controllers and transformers. The employees need access to inspect, replace or upgrade equipment. While much of this work takes place during normal business hours, it could also occur anytime there is an outage in the area.
“From time to time, we’ve had customers say that they don’t want us on their property. We try to assure them that Dawson PPD employees are simply doing a job. They are at a location to do their work, then move to the next task,” says Jeremy Kaiser, Manager of Operations.
“Our job is to build and take care of the electrical system so that customers have reliable, safe, and affordable power. We need access to our equipment. We try to be good neighbors and good stewards by respecting customer property and privacy.”
How do I know if it really is Dawson PPD on my property?
Dawson PPD vehicles are marked with the District’s name or logo. A majority of the trucks are red. District employees wear clothing with the logo. However, if a customer is concerned about the presence of a lineworker, they can contact Dawson PPD’s office by calling 308-324-2386. The district has vehicle location tracking on its trucks and can confirm that workers are Dawson PPD employees.
How much access does Dawson PPD need?
Line workers travel in pickups and large bucket or digger trucks. Occasionally, they may use an ATV or skid-steer for their work. While line workers can climb poles, big jobs – such as replacing a transformer on a pole – are much easier and safer with the use of trucks.
Some field roads are only wide enough for an ATV to pass. If Dawson PPD needs to access a field, the trucks will damage crops within the path.
If a customer has dangerous dogs or other livestock, Dawson PPD will ask them to secure them while maintenance work is completed.
If crews are restoring power and unable to access the location because of a hazard, that customer and perhaps other neighboring customers may experience a longer outage until arrangements can be made for access to Dawson PPD equipment.
Customer concerns
I have a locked gate to control who is allowed on my property.
The District can install its own lock on the gate. This means that Dawson PPD employees have access through its lock without disturbing the property owner’s lock.
I prefer to have Dawson PPD’s equipment out of sight at my home.
Careful landscaping may disguise utility equipment, but it cannot prevent access for line workers. Do not attach items to the District’s poles. Do not block pad-mounted transformer boxes, load control devices, or meter pedestals. Do not plant trees directly below a power line.
In some cases, Dawson PPD may be able to change the electrical service, switching from overhead to underground wires or moving the meter location. This work is usually completed at the customer’s expense and must be coordinated with the customer’s electrician.
There’s a person on an ATV that drove onto my place and is stopping by all the poles.
Dawson PPD hires a pole testing company to check on each pole. The goal is to visit about 10,000 poles per year. Their workers often park a vehicle in a central location, then use an ATV to drive to each pole. Dawson PPD receives data on each pole. Poles not meeting the standard are replaced. If a customer has questions about someone who may be doing pole testing, please call Dawson PPD at 308-324-2386.
Source: Dawson PPD’s Rules and Regulations Policy 601- General , Section 8 Access to premises: The District or its authorized agents shall have the right of free and safe access to a Customer’s premises, at all reasonable times, for the purpose of reading meters, removing or exchanging District-owned property, or installing, inspecting, testing or repairing District-owned equipment and clearing right-of way.
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