A systematic approach to the replacement of an aging distribution system

Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) provides electric service to all or parts of eight counties in southeast North Dakota. CCEC's rural area customer base has caused some concern in the past, because the number of agricultural-based customers has continued to decline, while the size of those remaining has continued to increase. To compound this situation, these rural area customers are being served by an aging overhead and a prematurely failing underground primary distribution system. Therefore, CCEC will begin systematically replacing its overhead and underground distribution systems to provide customers with safe, reliable, and economical electric energy. The author discusses the planning process, overhead and underground replacement processes, and vacant account analysis.