<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0M4O4z_1D7c05ga00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0M4O4z_1D7c05ga00" width="986" height="555" >KALISPELL, Mont. — Flathead Electric Cooperative is making major investments to keep up with northwest Montana’s rapid growth.Co-op leaders say the upgrades are about preparing the power grid for the region’s future.This summer, crews are working on substation upgrades, new transformers, underground power lines, and reconductoring projects across the Flathead Valley to help meet growing energy demand.“These infrastructure upgrades are really intended to help improve reliability, keep up with this continued growth in Northwest Montana, and just ensure that we’ve got a safe, secure, and reliable energy infrastructure,” said Dillon Tabish, Flathead Electric Cooperative communications and marketing supervisor.The co-op says maintaining the grid takes constant work, from removing hazardous trees and inspecting power lines to using drones to monitor equipment and catch potential problems before they lead to outages.“We have over 5,000 miles of power lines here in our service territory in northwest Montana, and some of that infrastructure is aging, and it’s really important to stay on top of that to prevent these issues from becoming big problems down the road,” said Tabish.Many of the larger projects are planned months or even years in advance. One of the improvements underway is reconductoring, which replaces wire on existing power lines to increase capacity without building a new line.Tabish says reconductoring is a more affordable and effective way to address infrastructure issues and putting in new lines can be expensive.As a member-owned cooperative, Flathead Electric says every dollar members pay is reinvested into maintaining and improving the local electrical system.“Whenever members pay their electric bill, that’s going into the system and for these infrastructure upgrades, and that way we’re making sure we have enough capacity for growth,” said Tabish.Co-op leaders say planning ahead helps avoid more costly emergency repairs later, and they do not expect these infrastructure projects to increase member electric bills.Projects will take place in Bigfork, Whitefish, Lakeside, Hungry Horse, Kalispell, and the Swan. The co-op plans to share updates with members as major projects move forward.</div></body>

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KALISPELL, Mont. — Flathead Electric Cooperative is making major investments to keep up with northwest Montana’s rapid growth. Co-op leaders say the upgrades are about preparing the power grid for the region’s future. This summer, crews are working on substation upgrades, new transformers, underground power lines, and...

Flathead Electric upgrades underway to meet growing demand

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KALISPELL, Mont. — Flathead Electric Cooperative is making major investments to keep up with northwest Montana’s rapid growth. Co-op leaders say the upgrad

Flathead Electric upgrades underway to meet growing demand

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