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Nothing builds camaraderie better than getting down in the trenches with your peers and working together to reach a common goal.
That’s exactly what PSNC Energy has been doing with its fellow utilities in and around the Raleigh area. Progress Energy, BellSouth and Time Warner have joined PSNC Energy in implementing a joint trenching program that’s achieving success on all fronts.
“We’ve always worked closely with fellow utilities on various projects, but it wasn’t until this past spring that all four of our area’s major utilities got on the same page and initiated a formal joint trenching program,” said Jimmy Jones, operations manager for the Raleigh region.
“We started out with just a handful of projects, but things have really taken off.”
Joint trenching is a collaborative approach to utility work that requires strong communication and even greater flexibility. The utilities share a single ditch and collectively employ one contractor to perform the installation work. Jones emphasizes that good chemistry between the utility representatives can make all the difference.
“It takes a little more time on the front end to get the project mapped out between us all,” explains Jones, “but the savings it generates for O&M and capital is significant.”
With one contractor doing the work of four, it’s easy to see the obvious benefits. Locating expenses are cut to a minimum, the potential for third party damage is significantly reduced if not eliminated, and competition among contractors often results in a discount shared by all the utilities.
It saves money, time and manpower, and joint trenching even enhances customer satisfaction.
“Our developers love it,” said John Pate, a PSNC Energy inspector in the Raleigh region, who explained that joint trench installation is applied to new business projects.
“They have one contractor on the construction site doing all the utility work, and that means the builders can get their houses built all that much faster,” explained Pate. “Our area developers are really starting to pursue this with us.”
PSNC Energy management is equally pleased with how well the joint trench program is progressing in the company’s Raleigh region.
“We’ve completed seven projects so far and have as many as 45 more on our schedule,” said Scott Swindler, PSNC Energy’s general manager of engineering. “It has been extremely rewarding for everyone involved.”
PSNC Energy anticipates a joint trenching program in the company’s Asheville region as early as next year. Meanwhile, Jimmy Jones will continue to serve on the joint trench steering committee in Raleigh region.
“We’ve proved its doable here in Raleigh for main installation jobs, and now we’re trying to develop some best practices. There’s a possibility that we’ll be doing joint trenching on service installations in the future.”
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