|
Marceline, MO —
Since early July, the City of Marceline has been renewing its focus on utility
infrastructure, and residents are already seeing signs of progress. Under steady
leadership and with a dedicated electric crew, the City’s Electric Department
has been making measurable improvements to ensure reliable power delivery
throughout the community.
With fewer
outages, faster response times, and a growing emphasis on proactive maintenance,
it’s clear that momentum is building. While the work has always been demanding,
recent months have brought a sharpened focus on long-term system health.
“The men and women
maintaining Marceline’s electric system know this City and care deeply about
doing the job right,” said City Manager Jesse Wallis, who began his role on July
1st. “I’ve been impressed by the crew’s knowledge and commitment, and we’ve been
working together to bring extra attention to preventative maintenance and
reliability.”
Wildlife
Protection Measures Paying Off
So far in the
2024–25 year, crews have:
-
Installed
24 new bushing covers in substations, protecting 4 circuit breakers
-
Added 10
bushing covers to overhead transformers serving multiple customers
These small, gray,
grain-bin-shaped devices are easy to spot and provide a critical barrier between
energized equipment and grounded surfaces, preventing outages caused by animals.
Dozens more were already installed before this year, and new ones are added as
needed when outages occur.
Ongoing Tree
Trimming and Vegetation Management
Tree limbs are one
of the leading causes of power disruption in smaller systems. Marceline’s
Electric Department continuously trims or removes problematic trees throughout
the city. Although no formal logs are kept due to the scope of the work, crews
take immediate action when vegetation near power lines poses a threat.
Pole Replacement and System
Strengthening
About five
poles have been replaced in the last 12 months, including:
-
2 transformer
poles
-
2
road-crossing poles
-
1 junction
pole
serving a small residential cluster
Much of
Marceline’s pole infrastructure remains in strong condition, but key
sections—particularly older 2400V circuits in areas like Downtown, W. Lake
Street, JJ Hwy, and parts of the southwest and southeast—are under continuous
review and have seen targeted replacements as needed.
Redundant Power &
Technology Investments
The city’s three
substations—Chicago, Longbranch, and Runway—are each rated at 9.375MVA and give
Marceline the ability to switch power sources quickly during emergencies.
Additionally, four backup generator units provide up to 8 megawatts of
generation capacity to support the system during high-demand periods or outages.
Plans are also
moving forward to implement:
-
SCADA systems
for remote monitoring and quicker restoration
-
Geo-Mapping
tools to assist crews in real-time line location
-
Reclosers
(smart breakers)
to automatically isolate faults and restore power faster
A Reliable Grid,
Backed by Hard Data
Reviewing 2024
data shows clear progress in system performance:
-
SAIFI (Avg.
Outages per System):
<17%
-
CAIFI (Avg.
Outages per Customer):
<12%
-
SAIDI (System
Downtime):
<1%
-
CAIDI
(Customer Downtime):
<1%
These numbers
reflect a well-maintained system that’s heading in the right direction.
“Marceline is
fortunate to have an experienced and dedicated electric team,”
said Wallis. “Since stepping into my role, I’ve worked closely with our
linemen and supervisors to prioritize the kinds of investments and maintenance
that prevent problems before they happen. It’s a team effort, and we’re
committed to keeping the community informed and connected.”
For further
information, please contact the City Manager Jesse Wallis at 660.376.3528 or
jesse.wallis@marcelinemo.us.
# # #
|
