Midwest Electric is budgeting $3.3 million in investments in power reliability and electric operations in 2023. After 13 years since its last rate increase in 2010, the cooperative is planning a moderate rate increase later in 2023.

Primary 2023 work plan components include:

• Continuing the multiyear installation of a distribution automation (DA) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, which will reduce the length of major outages by using automation to remotely and quickly transfer load (or “backfeed”) from one source to another. The goal is to eventually make this switching capability available system-wide to 17 substations and metering points.
• Pole testing in the Moulton delivery point and Cridersville substation areas. All 33,000 of Midwest Electric’s poles are tested on a 10-year cycle for sturdiness and reliability. Typically, less than 1 percent fail the test, and those are replaced.
• Buying new equipment, which includes meters, transformers, line reclosers, voltage regulators, and poles.
• Tree trimming in the Bluelick, Rockport and Noble substation 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.
• Additional information technology (IT) hardware and software as technology expands deeper into our electric operations areas such as digital electric meters, SCADA, DA, and remote monitoring and control.

“Our engineering staff does an impressive job of planning for the future growth and power reliability needs of our members, and the operations crews are dedicated to restoring power safely and efficiently,” says CEO Matt Berry.

For updates on construction throughout the year, follow Midwest Electric on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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