MDU is first in North America to use aluminum encapsulated conductor

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - A transmission line running from Bismarck to Napoleon needed to be replaced. What would usually be a long and expensive project was shortened by using a new technology.

Aluminum encapsulated carbon fiber conductor was used on the lines and Montana-Dakota Utilities is the first energy company in North America to use it.

With new wind developments near Napoleon, the energy line needed to be upgraded to allow more power to run through it.

Without this aluminum casing being able to go on existing structures, MDU said they would’ve had to replace up to 60 structures, which would’ve made for a huge and expensive project.

“If you think about replacing all of those, that’s where we were able to reduce the timeline and then also the cost,” said Spokesman for Montana-Dakota Utilities Mark Hanson.

Hanson added the crew finished the project a year early and saved $1.8 million.

MDU said the majority of the project is finished, but there’s still a small part left to complete which should be done by July.