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NorthWestern Corporation
NorthWestern Corporation
12/10/2012 | Press release
Power Pole Replacement Work in Philipsburg Will Likely Continue to 2013
distributed by noodls on 12/11/2012 17:30
Butte, Mont. - Dec. 10, 2012 - Work continues on an extensive power-pole replacement project in Philipsburg, with the completion date for the work expected early in 2013. The NorthWestern Energy project is aimed at improving the reliability and safety of electric service in the area.
A number of the poles involved in the roughly $300,000 project carry not only electric lines but telecommunications infrastructure owned by Blackfoot Telecommunications Group. In some cases, the poles are owned by Blackfoot. NorthWestern crews are working with the Missoula-based telecommunications company to coordinate replacement of the poles owned by Blackfoot that deliver both electric and telecommunications services.
In some cases, old poles with telecommunications lines sit next to newly installed poles with electric service. Ultimately, all the lines will be transferred to the new poles. In the meantime, there will be instances where two poles will temporarily remain in close proximity.
While initial plans called for the pole-replacement project to be complete by the end of 2012, final work will be pushed into early next year. A review of power poles in the Philipsburg area found about 110 that needed to be replaced due to their age or condition.
The project is a part of a company-wide initiative called the Distribution System Infrastructure Project. The $300 million, seven-year project is aimed at improving the reliability and reliability of NorthWestern Energy's electric and natural gas distribution systems. The focus of the program is on being proactive in terms of inspecting and improving key components of distribution system infrastructure.
Pole replacement work is a key part of the initiative. In the coming years, such work will increase significantly across NorthWestern's service territory as the company works to replace aging infrastructure, improve system capacity, boost safety and reliability and provide better service to its rural customers.
About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in
the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately
668,400 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.www.northwesternenergy.com.
Media Contact:
Butch Larcombe
(866) 622-8081
butch.larcombe@northwestern.com
