RAPID CITY, S.D. – Aug 10, 2020 –Black Hills Energy has started construction on a project to replace older electric distribution infrastructure located in the alleys in the Rapid City downtown district. This project is one of several integrity projects Black Hills Energy is completing across its electric service territory in South Dakota to ensure safe and reliable energy. The conversion project may take up to six years to complete, targeting several downtown city blocks per year.
“The downtown conversion project will allow Black Hills Energy to meet our customers’ needs, as well as ensure we continue to maintain our top tier reliability far into the future,”
“The downtown conversion project will allow Black Hills Energy to meet our customers’ needs, as well as ensure we continue to maintain our top tier reliability far into the future,” said Mike Pogany, Black Hills Energy’s director of electric operations in South Dakota.
Upgrading the downtown district has been in planning for several years and the construction planning team started the construction process in early 2020. The multi-year project will rebuild or replace targeted areas of the downtown district, with intent to install power lines underground where possible.
The multi-year schedule is as follows:
2020 Phase 2A 5th Street to 4th Street, Saint Joseph Street to Kansas City Street
2020 Phase 2B 8th Street to 6th Street, Saint Joseph Street to Kansas City Street
2021 Phase 3: West Blvd to 6th Street, Main Street to Saint Joseph Street
2022 Phase 4: 6th Street to 2nd Street, Main Street to Saint Joseph Street
2023 Phase 5: West Blvd to 6th Street, Omaha Street to Saint Joseph Street
2024 Phase 6: 6th Street to 3rd Street, Omaha Street to Main Street
2025 Phase 7: 3rd Street to 1st Street, Omaha Street to Saint Joseph Street
The project will utilize contractors and Black Hills Energy employees who will be on site at various times during construction period. The company’s first priority is always safety. Black Hills Energy crews and contractors are fully trained and equipped to ensure public and crew safety, and we will provide key safety information to customers as construction proceeds from one phase to the next phase of the project.
“Keeping our electric distribution system operational takes careful planning, maintenance, communication, and investments in new infrastructure,”
“Keeping our electric distribution system operational takes careful planning, maintenance, communication, and investments in new infrastructure,” Pogany said. “We must anticipate customer needs well in advance as they grow in the downtown district. This investment in the distribution system represents Black Hills Energy’s ongoing commitment to our customers to provide safe, reliable energy.”