Geysers interrupt electric work twice
Staff writer
Workers for Integrated Electrical Services Commercial and Industrial in Holdrege, Nebraska, ran into unexpected problems last week.
Crews digging holes for placement of electric poles along the east side of S. 3rd St. hit two city water mains that the city had not known were there.
IES supervisor Pat Holthaus said the city had old water lines on both sides of where the power pole hole was excavated.
The first water line was hit Nov. 7, and the second was hit Nov. 8, he said.
Both times, water gushed out of the hole, and public works employees had to come make repairs.
“It’s fixed now,” Holthaus said.
Holthaus said the work, started in January, was about 70% complete.
Poles and cross arms are being replaced where needed, and new transformers and lines are being installed to convert older 2,400-volt electrical service to 12.5-kilovolt service. The work is being done to reduce the number of power failures.
After lines are replaced along the circuits, IES will overhaul the city substation.