After years of neglect, Westminster strengthens power service

In recent years, Westminster’s over-worked electric power infrastructure has caused multiple trips and, at times, long outages—both in winter and summer. But, of late, according to the city’s outside consultant, Westminster and its leaders are to be commended for investing in much needed maintenance that includes tree-trimming to keep limbs and trees from dropping on overhead lines. Richard Tucker of Tucker Engineering Associates of Locust, North Carolina gave the mayor and council a chronology of the city’s electric power distribution system that was started with a four thousand kilovolt substation in 1921. Tucker called attention to an analysis by the city’s wholesale supplier, PMPA, that at one point showed around $250 thousand worth of power lost as the result of line losses. But he said improved maintenance of late had cut into those losses. Tucker says preventive maintenance is key.