Electric company taking inventory for GIS system
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
There are people wandering through islanders' yards and along roadways this winter and spring looking up at power lines and poles.

Do not be alarmed. They are not peeping toms, nor lost encyclopedia salesmen.

They are employees of a company called Osmose Utilities Services, Inc., of Buffalo, N.Y. hired by National Grid, Nantucket's electricity distributor to take inventory of the island's power distribution system.

Using electronic meter readers, note pads and GIS equipment while systematically walking all around the island observing and logging all telephone poles, wires, meters, transformers and power lines, Osmose data collectors are gathering information for National Grid to build its geographical information system (GIS).

"As everyone knows, the concept of GIS mapping is becoming commonplace," said National Grid Vice President Dave Fredericks. "But it begins with a very detailed set of base information or data points, so what all of these people are physically doing is identifying everything down to the last pole and meter."

Once all the information is collected - probably around early May - National Grid will then have a much clearer picture of its distribution system on Nantucket through its computers in its central offices. This translates into more efficient service.

"If we have quality detailed maps, we're able to do more and more from our offices, we're able to get to outages quicker if you're impacted," said Fredericks."

Anyone paying attention may have noticed that much of Nantucket's utility lines, including electric, cable television and telephone, are buried underground, conceivably making it tough for Osmose to log information on this part of National Grid's Nantucket power distribution system. But, Fredericks said he is not worried about that part of the task.

"Underground will be handled at a later time," he said. "One of the things we've been doing is when [someone does] a subdivision, we've been taking in a detailed map, but we're more comfortable with the data we have on those."

Since 1990, Nantucket's Subdivision Rules and Regulations have required developers to bury all utility wires in commercial and residential developments. Most of the developments along Old South Road have their utility lines buried as well as the east side of Tom Nevers Road.

National Grid, formerly Nantucket Electric, began burying its power lines in downtown Nantucket in 1996 and in 'Sconset's old historic district in 1998. Both projects are complete and were paid for by a two-percent surcharge on island ratepayers' bills. Buried utilities are safer and more reliable when not exposed to lightning strikes, corrosion by moisture-laden salt air, and vehicle accidents involving utility poles.

Fredericks could not say how much the current project would cost Nantucket ratepayers but said the cost would ultimately

be paid for by ratepayers. I