By Dawson Thompson

SaskPower increases funding to help farmers relocate power lines

Jul 29, 2021 | 4:00 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — SaskPower has more than doubled the funding for the Farmyard Line Relocation Program and is currently accepting applications from eligible landowners.

As farm equipment is becoming larger, overhead power lines are becoming more in the way to farmers each year.

For over 25 years the program has allowed farmers and producers to have power lines removed or buried from their farmyard with SaskPower subsidizing the cost.

“It’s about safety,” Scott McGregor a spokesperson for SaskPower told paNOW. “If we can make farmyards safer through moving some power lines we are absolutely going to be investing in that.”

Funding for this program is being increased from $2 million to $5 million. With the previous funding, SaskPower had room for about 125 calls. Roughly 300 projects can now be completed with the additional funding.

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SaskPower contributes 75 percent of the cost with the landowner paying the remaining 25 percent up to a maximum of $2,000 dollars.

Approved applications will be carried out subject to construction schedules on a first-come, first-paid, first-served basis. Landowners should note the program is eligible for farmyards and is not open to power lines in fields.

SaskPower saw 17 line contacts involving farm machinery last year and is currently reporting seven this year as of July 26.

“One is too many. It’s a great risk and is very dangerous. We encourage people who have hanging lines through their yards to give us a call,” McGregor added.

In addition to moving power lines underground, farmers are encouraged to take precautions such as lowering their equipment and carefully planning their route around power lines and poles located in the field during farming season.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8