Lane Electric’s Equipment Investments

The Co-Op Deploys Important Tech To Improve Reliability

There are several steps and various types of equipment involved in delivering power to your home.

Here is a closer look at some of the important tools:

Reclosers

A recloser is a high-voltage switch used throughout a distribution power system to improve reliability. Like a circuit breaker in your home, it shuts off electric power when there is an issue with the system, preventing damage to equipment and property.

Under normal operating conditions, reclosers automatically shut off a line when it senses a disturbance in the system. If the disturbance is temporary, such as a limb hitting the wire before it falls to the ground, it automatically resets and restores power.

Reclosers are used on power poles and in substations.

Pole Wrap

Pole wrap is material added around the distribution poles in certain areas to prevent damage from fire. The material is made of a wire mesh with a coating that activates and expands when exposed to extreme heat to protect wood poles from fire damage.

Drones

Electric utilities have many uses for drones. 1 of the main uses is inspection, primarily during outages and in inclement weather to expedite restoration. In addition to visually inspecting equipment, Lane Electric has used drone assistance to string overhead wires across water and rough terrain.

The cooperative has 1 drone and 1 licensed drone pilot. We intend to add more drones and certify and train more pilots in 2025.

Resilient Overhead Wire

Unlike traditional overhead power, a resilient line consists of a conductor wire and a protective outer layer. These lines can be more resistant to outages due to their covering and are often used in fire mitigation.