Davey Tree : Asset Management Portfolio : Florida Keys Electric Cooperative: Pole and Meter Inspection


Florida Keys Electric Cooperative: Pole and Meter Inspection

Davey Resource Group (DRG) inspected approximately 5,000 poles and 6,000 meters to help ensure quality data in Florida Keys Electric Cooperative’s (FKEC) outage management system and to maintain safe and reliable service throughout the distribution lines.

In the spring and summer of 2006, DRG performed visual and hammer-sounding inspections to check the quality of wood poles. All inspected poles were tagged so utility personnel knew which were assessed. Meter inspections included a reading and check for broken or tampered equipment. DRG also confirmed the association between meters and transformers.

Simultaneously, inspected areas were mapped using a global positioning system (GPS) to help upgrade and improve FKEC’s maps. In addition, vegetation that could have potentially interfered with the system was noted, and phasing was confirmed. Work orders were also updated.

DRG collected the data on a pen-tablet computer in the field. The information was uploaded daily to the ROWKeeper Work Planning Software and then delivered to FKEC.

FKEC provides electric service to more than 31,000 customers, with a distribution system that includes over 800 miles of overhead and underground lines from Ocean Reef to the Seven Mile Bridge.

For more information, contact Ken Joehlin at (800) 828-8312 or Scott Anderson at (904) 237-5622.