NREMC makes improvements to continue to deliver reliable power in northeast Indiana.

Columbia City, IN -  Each year, Northeastern REMC (NREMC) plans improvements to increase our electric system's reliability. In 2022, NREMC will be making more than $5.6 million in system improvements in Whitley and Allen Counties. The main areas of improvement are as follows:, and these improvements are specifically targeted to key drivers of outages. 

According to NREMC, trees were the second-leading cause of power outages last year. Heavy snow and wind can take a toll on trees, causing their limbs to fall onto power lines. Trimming the trees close to lines and poles is a staple in their annual work plan. More than a million dollars are being spent to keep the lines clear and the lights on.

Upgrades to the Lincolnway substation will bring improved outage detection capabilities for members on the east side of Whitley County. Similar upgrades will occur at the Aboite substation in southwest Allen County when adding a circuit switcher and updating relaying software.

Members in the Tri-Lakes area in Whitley County, served by the Ummel station, will see construction crews this spring as NREMC completely rebuilds the longest-serving substation in the area. 
"Ummel has served northern Whitley County for close to 50 years, and it will continue to do so well into the future," said Jim Eitsert, Vice President of Distribution Services.  

The remaining 14 substations NREMC maintains will benefit from a critical IT infrastructure upgrade that controls remote access and equipment operation. As a result, NREMC can pinpoint the location of faults in the system with much greater accuracy, which means shorter outage times for members when they can route to alternative power sources without sending technicians on-site.  

"Believe it or not, some of the most significant outages in 2021 were due to the smallest culprits, mice," said Eitsert. He added that mice would encounter energized parts of the equipment as they're scurrying through the smallest spaces in switchgear boxes. "This unfortunate end to their lives can cause power outages for our members. As a result, we've been installing new animal guards on all high-risk underground facilities to reduce the potential of outages," added Eitsert.

NREMC is inspecting the first of 2,000 utility poles, and 200 backyard transformers across the six counties served to ensure members do not have interruptions in their service due to aging poles.
Other, more specific, projects include:

• A larger three-phase overhead line will be added around Larwill in Whitley County to reduce exposure to trees and potential vehicle accidents.
• New three-phase conductors will be installed on Kell, Pion, Pulver, Auburn, and Gump roads to help handle the extensive member growth in northwest Allen County.
• A half-mile of new overhead lines on State Road 205 over U.S. Highway 30 in Columbia City will be added to better serve the apartments and homes near Eagle Glen.
• Allen County members in Pine Valley will have new primary underground wires installed to replace aging wires.
• NREMC will add new spacer cables in southwest Allen County near Amber and Redding roads. These lines will be more durable against weather-related damage from tree limbs.
• To reduce damage exposure and enhance the safety of NREMC crews, they'll also be adding underground cables crossing U.S. Highway 30 near Coesse.

To learn more about system improvements and equipment investments, go to nremc.com.