Home

Orchard Valley Feeder Project

orchard valley google earth

Background

Black Hills Energy is beginning construction work on the first portion of its Ready Wyoming electric transmission expansion project. The project is needed to serve the current and growing energy needs of customers served by Black Hills Energy’s Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power electric utility. Ready Wyoming will help maintain the reliability of the Cheyenne Light system, enhance the resiliency of the overall electric system and expand access to power markets and renewable resources.

The Orchard Valley feeder project is a critical component of Ready Wyoming. It will replace aging electrical “feeder” lines and infrastructure in this neighborhood, connect them to a new substation that will serve the area for generations to come and tie into the larger Ready Wyoming system.

 

FAQ

How will construction workers install the new lines?

Construction crews contracted to Black Hills Energy will be working in the roadways and alleys in Orchard Valley to replace underground electrical feeder lines.

  • To minimize street/alley disturbances, we will be using a trenchless technique –horizontal directional boring in most areas.
  • In some cases, it will be necessary for crews to use open trenching to install the new equipment.
  • We will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore ground areas that may have been disturbed during construction.

 

Will my electric power be affected?

No. We do not anticipate any power interruptions during the construction phase of the project.

 

How will the construction proceed?

The work will progress through the neighborhood, one section at a time, until the project is complete.

 

Will my street/driveway/alleyway be impacted, and will I still have access?

Black Hills Energy will work to communicate any temporary impacts to customers in advance of the work being done in their immediate area.

  • Our crews will work hard to keep streets and residential driveway access open during construction.
  • There may be periods of time that we ask for the temporary relocation of parked vehicles, campers/trailers from the roadside construction area. We will make every effort to make this interruption short in duration.
  • In some cases, mail delivery to roadside boxes and trash pickup in alleyways may be impacted. We will work with these residents and with the city, county mail/trash services regarding these issues.

 

How will you be communicating construction updates to customers?

Our goal during the construction period is to provide a series of customer letters and emails as well as real-time information and updates on the Ready Wyoming web landing page: cqxt.throttleriders.net/ready-wyoming

  • Additionally, we will always have a construction manager on-site.
  • We have a customer service number to call, 888-890-5554 for any questions.

 

How will damage caused by the construction be repaired?

We will work quickly to remediate any impact in the construction area. Our goal is to always leave the construction area in better condition than we found it.

 

How will I know if a contractor is working for Black Hills Energy?

All contractors carry Black Hills Energy identification and are trained to meet our high quality and service standards.

 

Why is Black Hills Energy/Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power doing this project now?

Black Hills Energy’s Ready Wyoming project received a CPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) from the Wyoming Public Service Commission in the fall of 2023. The Ready Wyoming Project is scheduled to be completed and put into service at the end of 2025.