Jackson finishes project to make all electrical lines compatible

As of last week, all Jackson electric customers are on a common distribution voltage, completing a seven-month, multimillion-dollar project for the city.

Don Schuette, director of electric utilities, said the move from 4 kV to 12.4 kV will help work crews not only manage the city's electric service but help them get power back up and running more quickly in the event of an outage, also called an anomaly.

Schuette said during past power outages, particularly the ice storms, it was frustrating for crews because the lines and circuits were not compatible with each other. Even if a 4 kV line was near a 12 kV circuit, there was no way to tie them together. The differing voltages were not compatible.

Now all circuits and lines in the city are compatible, allowing crews more options during an outage.

"It may take some innovative thinking, but it can be done," he said.

Having different voltages throughout the city, the electric department had to keep a variety of parts and supplies on hand. Now the city can reduce its inventory.

Running a higher voltage also reduces line loss. As electricity travels across power lines to its destination, it meets resistance and more power is needed for transmission. Higher voltage systems have less resistance, requiring less power for transmission.

Throughout the conversion project, which started in May, crews replaced 190 electric poles, 240 transformers and close to 50 miles of electric line.

Schuette said the new equipment alone will help the city's power to operate more efficiently.

"Some of these poles were installed in 1932. Now we have more robust, durable poles. They will be resilient, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us," he said. "That's going to help a bunch."

Throughout the process electric customers in Jackson experienced some minor disruptions in power, Schuette said. However, he said work crews and the electric department stayed in touch with those affected and let them know when to expect a loss. He said most disruptions lasted about 30 minutes and customers were understanding.

"It was their money at work," he said. "They wanted a good, solid, durable system, and we responded by providing what we should."

Regardless of the voltage, Schuette said, the department has always paid close attention to the maintenance and upkeep of the city's electric lines.

"It minimizes exposures to anomalies and wear and tear. Power outages do happen, but a proactive approaches minimizes those problems," he said.

In the city of Jackson's 2010 annual report, Schuette said that during the conversion, crews also put in place routes to get power to Jackson City Hall in the event of an emergency. He said they now have four switching scenarios to get power to city offices. That will provide city officials a central command center during a crisis.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent Addresses:

101 Court St., Jackson, MO

420 Florence St., Jackson, MO