Carbon County system resiliency
Improving safety and reliability
We’re taking actions to enhance reliability and reduce the risk of equipment-related wildfires. These steps include replacing aging overhead power lines in areas of higher wildfire risk with fire-resistant infrastructure, such as covered conductor, and undergrounding lines in some areas.
The Carbon County projects rebuilt three miles of transmission line and 60 miles of distribution line, of which 13 miles was placed underground. These enhancements are helping adapt our system to the growing threat of wildfire in the West.
Project need and benefits
The Carbon County projects are improving our system by enhancing the power lines which transmit and deliver electricity to our customers, helping to improve reliability even as we work to mitigate growing wildfire risks.
Undergrounding some distribution lines – where it makes the most sense to do so – will help reduce wildfire risks because the lines will no longer be able to come in contact with vegetation. Enhancements to remaining overhead distribution lines include tree wire, which has a protective coating that reduces deterioration and helps avoid fire ignition risk. Tree wire is an effective way to upgrade power lines where undergrounding wouldn’t be as effective.
Other enhancements include non-expulsion fuses, covered distribution lines, steel poles, fire-resistant pole wraps or coatings, and potential reconstruction of parts of the line.
About the completed projects
Columbia 11 projects:
- In all, 34.2 miles of line has been rebuilt.
- In Lower Canyon, removal of 48 poles and the installation of three steel poles is complete.
- In Columbia, Sunnyside and East Carbon, removal of 30 poles installation of 551 new poles is complete.
- In Bruin Point, removal of 95 poles is complete.
Columbia Woodside projects:
- Replacement of 21.5 miles of bare conductor with tree wire is complete.
- Removal of 187 poles and installation of 289 new poles is complete.
Columbia Coal Creek projects:
- Replacement of 66 wooden poles is complete.
Columbia-Mounds projects:
- Between Columbia Substation and Mounds Substation, five miles of line has been rebuilt.
- Removal of 40 poles and installation of 58 new poles is complete.
Based on guidance from the order issued by the Utah Public Service Commission regarding Rocky Mountain Power’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, the company is suspending some system strengthening projects.