Jesup-Offerman 115kV Line

Sumter Utilities crews are hard at work on a major transmission upgrade along the Jesup-Offerman transmission line, a 31-mile project spanning southern Georgia.  The scope of the project calls for setting new concrete poles and reconducting 115kV wire to keep pace with growing electrical demand in the region. Work began in late October 2025 and has continued steadily since, with two dedicated crews assigned to the job — crew 245, led by Foreman David Haire, and crew 835, led by Foreman Kyler Lee.

The pole replacement process has required careful sequencing to keep both the transmission and distribution systems safe throughout construction. New concrete poles, weighing just under 40,000 pounds apiece, have been set using a 200-foot crane, with local traffic control and police coordinating lane closures on the adjacent highways during each lift.

As the project has progressed, crews have kept up with routine safety requirements, including a scheduled glove changeout at the laydown yard, where rubber goods are inspected and swapped out every six months. Every morning starts with a JTSA to keep the crew on the same page. Even the neighborhood dog shows up hoping for a snack (pictured in gallery above) — but hopefully he picks up a lesson in safety along the way too!

This project remains in progress.