Kentucky Power has introduced a Patriot 50 digger derrick to its fleet to improve restoration efforts and reliability with its pole replacement capabilities in difficult terrain requiring manual work or the use of smaller, less efficient equipment.
The machine includes a bucket lift to assist with power restorations, trouble jobs and routine pole change outs. It will be able to meet the demands of the company’s distribution work in mountainous and heavily forested terrain.
Digger derricks can be used at job sites where utility trucks are unable to function.
The machine with 6,000 pounds of lifting capacity can handle transformers and poles as well as backfill materials such as dirt or rock. The equipment features a hydraulic powered auger and a winch to pick up and move poles with guides setting poles into the ground.
“Instead of manually digging and hand setting poles in hard-to-reach places, which can take longer and be more hazardous work, we can drive this digger derrick right to the job site and safely expedite the restoration process when outages occur,” said Vernon Mullins, distribution system supervisor. “Investment in this equipment is an investment in reliability improvements to better serve our customers.”
