In sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. NV Energy crews in Reno, Nevada, have found such a “player” that can squeeze through a small backyard opening and still function as a bucket truck, digging machine and hauling trailer.

Before purchasing the new backyard machine, crews had to rely on high-line rigging, hand carts and cumbersome diggers to replace or fix hard-to-reach equipment. For the past 18 months, however, field crews have improved productivity with the EZ Hauler from SDP Manufacturing. NV Energy purchased the machine after attending industry trade shows and trying out several models from various manufacturers. The utility opted to purchase this machine primarily because of its boom strength, its reach and its platform, which allow crews to carry transformers into tight locations.

Compact Machine

Utility crews use the machine when they can't access an area with a normal bucket or line truck. While the machine has a compact footprint, it carries many of the same features as a traditional truck. Once the linemen raise the boom, it's like having a full-sized truck in a customer's backyard.

The EZ Hauler has a man-lift bucket attachment, so linemen can go up in a bucket and complete routine work in hard-to-reach backyards. Additionally, the machine includes a derrick to dig holes as well as pole-grabbing tongs to hold broken poles or set and stabilize a new pole.

Unlike full-sized trucks and equipment, the machine can fit through a standard-sized 3-ft gate. The tracks telescope in and out, so the crews can fold in the tracks and stabilizers when they go through the gate and then expand the tracks to gain a larger footprint. With other models with wheels, the linemen would have to remove the wheels, which didn't allow them to move in and out of tight spaces quickly.

Because the tracks tend to tear grass up when turning, the utility crews typically put down fiberglass pads to minimize any damage or impact on customer lawns or landscaping.

Time and Labor Savings

By using the machine to do a backyard pole changeout, the crews can cut their work time in half, because they do not have to do specialized rigging.

In addition, they can save strain on their backs, because they no longer need to manually haul all of the equipment into the backyard and up onto a pole. Instead, the machine serves as a work horse.

The machine operates a lot like the utility's existing trucks with booms, so there was not much of a learning curve when it came to using the machine. The field crews attended an in-service training session to learn how to operate the unit and use the wireless remote control out in the field.

Field Uses

Currently about six crews are using the machine in the field, and they take turns using the machine based upon their work load for the day. If they're working on a backyard pole project, then they travel to NV Energy's yard, pick it up and take it out for use on the job.

In addition to using the machine in homeowners' backyards, NV Energy crews are using it in tight alleyways or hard-to-reach canyons. Often, it's challenging for crews to drive their full-sized trucks to broken poles or faulty transformers in these locations.

Another way in which crews are using the machine out in the field is to replace padmounted equipment in hard-to-reach places in such locations as congested apartment complexes.

So far, the customers have responded favorably to the machine. By using the EZ Hauler, the linemen are able to perform backyard work in a safe and time-efficient manner. Rather than needing to tear down fences, rip up grass or roll over landscaping, NV crews are able to quickly access the backyard, get the job done and then leave without making an impact on the lawn or landscaping.

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Erik Johnson (erikjohnson@nvenergy.com) is the supervisor for line construction and maintenance for NV Energy in Reno, Nevada, and has been with the company for 12 years. Johnson is a professional engineer.

Companies mentioned:

NV Energy www.nvenergy.com

SDP Manufacturing www.sdpmfg.com