Small village gets safe, reliable electricity

Courtesy Photo | AL BETOUL, Iraq -- A forest of poles and lines dot the landscape at Al Betoul. In Iraq, homes are usually constructed before the city builds the sewer, water or electrical hook-ups; but, as Al Betoul shows, that is starting to change. (U.S. Army photo)  

AL BETOUL, IRAQ

10.11.2005

Courtesy Story

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Maj. Russ Goemaere
2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

AL BETOUL, Iraq - A project to bring safe electricity to current and future residents of Al Betoul, a small village east of Baghdad, is complete.

The project, started in November 2004, brought modern electrical connections to all 715 lots in the neighborhood. Along with the replacement of all the residential power cables, the installation of 20 large 250-kilovolt transformers, 475 poles, 42 250-amp circuit breakers and street lights rounded out the project.

"I am very happy with the completion of the project," said Yasser Kadhem, a resident of the community. "I used to string phone cable over existing power lines to get power for my family. It was very unsafe. Now we have safe power hookups for all our homes."

Kadhem said he needs electricity for a refrigerator, air conditioning unit, television, fans and lights. Electricity in his area is on for three hours and off for three, but he sees no reason to have an additional power source.

The Al Betoul project is an innovative project for the Iraqi government. In east Baghdad, it was normal for homeowners to build a home without first considering hook-ups to city water, sewer or power.

Al Betoul is now a community where poles and wires are in place for future residents to connect to.

"A lot of people want to build on the empty lots because they know this area has power and will soon have water as well," Kadhem said.

• Date Taken: 10.11.2005
• Date Posted: 10.11.2005 16:41
• Story ID: 3273
• Location: AL BETOUL, IQ