Electric Department continues change to underground conversion

Sidney Electric Department continues to convert the city of Sidney to underground power lines, planning to bury around 50,000 feet of electric lines within the next three to five years.

Electric Superintendent Mike Palmer said, the conversion began in early 2008, with south side of town finished around 2011.

Palmer said the overhead lines were becoming less useful, and it was time to replace them.

“It is also aesthetics,” said Palmer, “and the underground lines, are less susceptible to storm damage and outages.”

After completion of the south side the project set it sights to the down town area.

“We work on it in phases as the budget and weather allows,” Palmer said. “When the ground freezes, it becomes difficult to work underground.”

Palmer said all of the infrastructure is in place for the downtown conversion, from 7th Ave. to 23rd Ave.

“The infrastructure includes, transformers, conduit ducts, junction boxes, and anything that has to do with distribution to the system,” Palmer said.

In a special meeting the Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with the City of Sidney for it’s conversion at the Court House aAnnex building, located at 920 Jackson street in down town, Sidney.

The projected cost of the conversion for the Annex building is $1400, with the 50 percent shared cost the city offers, the total agreed upon was $700.

Palmer said the city authorized a split cost for the conversion program up to a $1200 total amount for residential and $1600 for commercial.

“Before the work is done, a contract is signed as to how the property owners plan to take care of their half,” said Palmer, “the city does offer a no interest payment plan that is incorporated onto their electric bill.”

Palmer said once an area is deemed ready for a conversion, a letter of inception is sent out to property owners in that area, making them aware that the conversion will be taking place.

“Residents have the option to contract the conversions out themselves, and the city would still share the cost,” Palmer said.

Most property owners choose to let the electric company take care of the underground conversion, said Palmer, “once we have the property owners’ ok, the city puts together a bid packet and suggests the lowest contractor.”

“The next areas for the conversion will be the core of town,” Palmer said, “from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to Toledo Street.”

Palmer said the electric department will try to work with everyone who has concerns, if there are questions contact the electric department at 308-254-6345.