IT for the districts improves connections
for D2 remote sheds, saves $40K

Powell, Fleming and Reeds Bar are three of the most remote maintenance sheds in all of District 2. Getting good, reliable internet connections to the sheds for NOAA monitoring, vital communications from operations managers, or linkages to other sheds for personnel support/coordination was sketchy, and expensive. So, the district started looking into viable alternatives.

“The service wasn’t reliable and the trucks were unable to download their data,” explained Kati Young of D2 IT. “But we really needed them to be connected.”

The old service, through Big Sky, cost $950 per month and wasn’t consistently available. About two years ago, the district started looking at options, and just a few months ago the Powell site went live with Hughes Net. The truck download fix is in the works, and it is hopeful to be operational soon.

The sheds at Fleming and Reeds Bar are expected to follow suit, hopefully before the end of the year.

Young mentioned that there were initial costs to get service established, but the service dropped down to about $125 per month. In the first two to three months you’ve paid for the service and are starting to save money,” she said. In the first full year of the service, the savings is expected to be about $40,000.

Published 11-22-19