County officials gave the green light last week to East River Electric to erect new overhead power lines across the county, along with support services and facilities.
The new 115 kV power lines are necessary to replace outdated systems and improve reliability to meet increasing local power demands, company officials said. Businesses and homes are experiencing higher power requirements, while agricultural operations are also expanding and need more power than in previous years, company officials said.
Once the new Moody County Switching Station just outside of Trent is operational, service lines built in 1959 that stretch across the southern part of the county will be retired.
The location of the transmission lines will also be updated. The new lines will be placed in the right of way along county roads instead of through the middle of sections, where they were previously located.
“Mid-section placement is less than ideal for ongoing line inspection and maintenance,” said Jerae Wire, Construction and Permitting Coordinator for ERE. “In the case of a storm or event that causes downed power lines, access to this area is very difficult. The increased safety of our crews is why our board of directors has directed us to construct lines along the road right of way whenever possible.”

· East River Electric Power Cooperative was formed by neighboring distribution co-ops across the region in 1949 to provide transmission and substation services for rural co-ops
· East River Electric Power Cooperative owns and operates all transmission and substation infrastructure for Sioux Valley Energy Cooperative.
· East River Electric Power Cooperative is a wholesale electric power supply cooperative that serves 24 rural electric distribution cooperatives and one municipally-owned electric system.
· East River Electric Power Cooperative has 40,000 square mile service territory serving 41 counties in eastern South Dakota and 22 counties in Minnesota
· East River Electric Power Cooperative owns and operates 3,500 miles of transmission line
· East River Electric Power Cooperative owns and operates 240 distribution substations and 18 power supply stations