Basin Electric Power Cooperative, USA

In support of its generation and transmission systems, Basin Electric required a new, updated radio system for each of its three major generation facilities, as well as its Transmission Systems Maintenance (TSM) group, which is responsible for maintaining Basin Electric's high-voltage transmission towers and lines.

With these systems being crucial in covering Basin Electric's entire operations area, it was determined that a new consolidated multi-site trunked system in the UHF band would be the most reliable and cost-effective solution.

The existing TSM and power-plant radio systems had been in service for 30 years. Over that time, the transmission system had expanded into areas without radio or cell-phone coverage. Crews were unreachable when working on the transmission system in these expanded areas. Interoperability between different state systems was difficult, making it extremely hard for crews to work together on transmission repair.

The new Tait system allows TSM crews to seamlessly travel throughout Basin Electric's radio coverage area and is as simple as using a cell phone. The radios automatically register and de-register at tower sites as the user travels through different areas.

To make a call, the user simply selects the unit or group they want to call and then keys-up the radio. The new radio system includes 93 repeater/tower sites and approximately 1900 field units.