Black Hills Energy upgrades eight-mile transmission line in Rapid City

Black Hills Energy recently completed a project to replace the eight-mile electric transmission line in Rapid City, S.D.

The replacement of the 55-year-old line will improve the safety and reliability of the regional electric grid. Work on the project began in June 2020 and end in May 2021.

“This transmission line upgrade allows Black Hills Energy to meet our customers’ current and future energy needs. Customers will benefit with improved reliability for decades to come,” Marc Eyre, Black Hills Energy’s vice president of electric operations in South Dakota, said. “Upgrading this critical transmission line not only strengthens the energy grid but also supports continued economic growth in the region. Reliable energy is one of the first resources a new or expanding business looks for.”

The upgraded transmission line extends from Black Hills Energy’s transmission substation north of Rapid City and runs south through the city. It ends at the Black Hills Energy transmission substation in south Rapid City.

“Keeping the energy grid operating takes careful planning, maintenance, and investments in new infrastructure,” Eyre said. “We must anticipate customer needs well in advance, and we cannot wait for a system to fail before initiating a process that can take years to complete. This investment in the grid represents Black Hills Energy’s ongoing commitment to our customers in providing safe, reliable energy.”