NEWTON, Iowa – April 2, 2012 – Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, is starting work on a Power Iowa project to enhance safety and increase reliable service for residents in and near Newton.
This life extension project will start in mid-April and will last through mid-August. Crews will be replacing approximately 70 power poles along 50 miles of road in south and west Newton.
The life extension project is a new effort by Alliant Energy and started in 2010. Alliant Energy inspects every piece of equipment in its service territory at least once every ten years. This inspection includes careful review and testing of poles, wire, and all other equipment on a circuit. Specific to power poles, crews drill core samples to get a more complete assessment of the integrity of the pole than a visual inspection provides.
Through the Life Extension process, crews replace bad wood components, adding lighting protection, tightening hardware and replacing any protective equipment needed. This specific project represents an investment of $274,777 to our customers in the area. By replacing select components on a line and making repairs, life extensions delay he need for a complete rebuild. The life extension process will add more than 20 years of life to the circuit.
“In the areas where crews have completed life extension projects, the improvements have reduced the duration and frequency of outages by nearly 50 percent,” said Dee Brown – director of Energy Delivery Operations Support.
Electrical service to customers in the area should not be affected by this work.
Drivers are urged to take caution when near a utility crew, especially along Highway 14 where crews will be replacing several poles.
Alliant Energy’s 2012 Power Iowa Plan includes $72 million of planned investments this year in upgrading overhead and underground electric lines, electric substations and natural gas infrastructure. Power Iowa’s goal is to improve system reliability, reduce outages, and provide more reliable power to Alliant Energy’s Iowa customers.
Media Contact: Justin Foss, (319) 786-4788