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
Dawson PPD’s board is preparing for the future
At the September board meeting, Dawson Public Power District directors reviewed the July financial records. Both operating expenses and revenue are below budget. Due to strong financials in earlier months, the year-to-date net margin is ahead of budgeted projections....
New Maintenance Truck Style Joins Dawson PPD Fleet
The iconic red truck of our maintenance lineworkers remains in Dawson PPD’s fleet, but with a twist.
Guest column: Common types of utility poles
Utility line poles have evolved significantly. From simple wooden poles to materials like fiberglass, concrete and ductile iron, these poles have adapted to the changing needs of our industry.