The Pierre City Electric Department is again getting noticed nationally for being a dependable power provider. The American Public Power Association has recognized them with an Excellence in Reliability Award.
According to data compiled from APPA’s eReliability Tracker service, those served by Pierre Municipal Utilities experienced an average of a little more than seven minutes of power outages in 2021; the five-year national average is 111 minutes without power per year based on US Energy Information Administration data. Those statics put Pierre in the top 25% of utilities rated by APPA.
Devin Harris, Electric Superintendent, says prevention is the name of the game. He says to prevent equipment failures, the department checks about 1,800 transformers, 300 switches and three city-operated sub stations annually. Those that aren’t touched during construction season or routine business are scanned in the winter months with an infrared heat gun. The gun scans electrical infrastructure and identifies equipment that is radiating too much heat and may cause an outage.
The Pierre Electric Department doesn’t generate power. It purchases electricity from the Western Area Power Administration and Missouri River Energy Services; both are not-for-profit wholesale power providers. Pierre then distributes that electrical power to approximately 7,330 city utility customers.
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding congratulates the Pierre Electric Department (April 12, 2022) for their national Excellence in Reliability Award. The Department ranks in the top quarter of the nation for its reliable electric service.
Photo credit City of Pierre.
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