Contractors may be in your area

Northern Plains Electric Cooperative (NPEC) has approximately 74,000 poles on about 3,750 miles of overhead line in its system, 2,893 miles of buried cable and serves over 11,900 meters.  It takes a lot of moving parts to maintain the reliability of NPEC’s system. Much of that maintenance needs to be squeezed into the spring and summer months while construction projects are in full effect.

To improve efficiency, NPEC hires contractors to work on some of the larger power line improvements, including pole testing, pole replacements, meter exchanges, plowing cable and cable locates. NPEC wants to inform our members that contractors may be in your area and that they may need to access your property.

Pole testing this spring

NPEC has contracted WLK Inspections, to inspect our utility poles to ensure they are safe. WLK Inspections will conduct a series of tests including a visual inspection, a sound test and boring inspections, to determine if the pole is in need of treatment or replacement. The testers also take note of potential hazards such as staples and nails used to hang signs, as well as signs themselves. These items can pose a danger to NPEC lineworkers. The testing process only takes a few minutes per pole and does not affect your electric service.

            This spring, poles in Benson and Eddy counties near Maddock, Minnewauken, Fort Totten and New Rockford are scheduled be tested. WLK team members will be accessing cooperative distribution lines using pickups and ATV’s. Inspectors will be wearing a vest and hard hat and will knock on members doors when they need to access a member’s yard.

Workers vehicles will be marked with a WLK Inspections logo along with a Northern Plains Electric Cooperative logo magnet.

Give us a call
            Our team will send out automated phone calls to notify members when maintenance will be their area. In order to be notified, your current telephone number must be on file. To update your information please contact our office. If you’d like to confirm whether a contractor working in your area is employed by NPEC, give us a call at 1-800-882-2500.