Three-Phase Electrical Power
For The Dairy Farm
Dennis Buffington
Agricultural, Biological,
and Engineering Extension
Do you have three-phase electrical power available
at your dairy farm? If so, are you taking advantage of
all the benefits of three-phase power? If you don’t have
three-phase power available, have you checked with
your local utility company recently to inquire about
the requirements to get three-phase power for your
farm?
As dairy farms become larger and more mecha
nized, there is an increasing need for larger electric
motors. Three-phase electrical power needs to be con
sidered on all dairy farms, especially if you are plan
ning for any renovations or expansions.
The benefits of three-phase power include;
• Three-phase motors cause little or no voltage
tlic,ker from motor starting.
• Three-phase motors cost considerably less (20-50
percent less) than comparable single-phase motors.
• Three-phase motors have longer useful lives than
single-phase motors.
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• Three-phase motors are available in a much
larger range of horsepower sizes.
The disadvantages of three-phase power are:
• Three-phase motors are not necessarily more effi
cient than single-phase motors.
• Three-phase power may mean that commercial
rates (rather than .residential rates) will be charged for
your electricity usage and that demand charges will be
assessed. Therefore, three-phase power may cost more
than single-phase power, depending on your local util
ity company and also your electricity generation sup
plier.
How can you get three-phase power? You must
check with your local utility company to inquire where
the nearest three-phase service is available and get a
cost estimate of providing the service to your farm.
Also find out whether you will be charged residential
or commercial rates for the electricity used on the
farm. In most cases, the answer will be that you will be
charged a commercial rate, but don’t let that answer
discourage you. In this era of deregulated electricity,
you may find that the benefits of three-phase power
offset the higher cost per kilowatt-hour for the electric
ity.
Be prepared to negotiate with your local utility com
pany on the issue of three-phase power. I know one
farmer who needed three-phase power because he was
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