NPPD Extends its Reach

When it comes to business concerns, anything affecting the bottom line is sure to be at the top of the list. The utility business is no different. In addition to employee safety, service reliability and, consequently, maximizing returns are of the highest priority. To keep the highest level of transmission availability, the system must be kept reliable. Such reliability involves a continuous maintenance program. Confronted with an increased need for transmission availability and reliability, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) began looking for a way to improve the efficiency of its line technicians. Because NPPD already had a crane in each of its four districts, an insulated work platform was designed that could attach to the crane and also be used as a man-lift. This would expand the capabilities of an existing crane to perform live line, barehand and de-energized line work.