A power transmission line in a remote area near Bunkerville was severed and brought down in an incident believed to have taken place on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The damage to the line was apparently caused by gunfire.
Fortunately, the 69 kV transmission line was de-energized at the time of the damage, according to OPD5 Engineering Coordinator Boyd Evans. “If the line had been energized at the time, it would have been a much bigger problem,” Evans said. “It would have taken out electricity service to a lot of people.”
As it was, the incident caused significant infrastructure damage to the line. Crews worked the following day to replace 400 feet of wire that had been affected by the break. Workers also replaced a damaged cross arm on a wooden pole where the line had broken.
Evans estimated that considering materials and man-hours to make the repairs, the cost to OPD5 ratepayers was between $5,000 and $10,000.
“People might think that this is not a big deal; that the utility just picks up those costs,” Evans said. “But OPD5 is not a for-profit utility. The district is made up of our communities. It is our ratepayers. So it is all of us, the customers, who end up paying for it.”
Officers from Metro Police Northeast Resident Section are currently investigating the incident.
According to local Metro Sergeant Keegan Doty, vandalism or destruction of utility infrastructure and equipment is a serious offense which can include felony charges as well as requirements to recompense the utility for the high cost of the damages.
“The incident is still under investigation,” Doty said. “We would encourage anyone with information about this case to come forward and let us know.”
Those with any information about this incident can either call the Metro Overton Substation at 702-397-2669 or file an anonymous report at Crimestoppers by calling 702-385-5555 or online at www.CrimeStoppersOfNV.com.