Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power is nearing completion of a new substation in Waterbury that will significantly increase reliability for customers and improve the resilience of the electric grid in the area. The improvements were made this summer and included distribution line upgrades, all new equipment with higher capacity and better voltage regulation to support distributed generation, fiber communications and deterrents for animal caused outages and copper theft. Annually, GMP invests approximately $95 million in capital projects, including system maintenance and upgrades.
“These forward-thinking investments in our infrastructure are critical to our work to provide cost-effective, reliable and clean power for our customers,” said Dorothy Schnure, GMP spokesperson. “And they are necessary in order for us to transform to the grid of the future where GMP and our customers are generating more renewable and clean energy, such as rooftop solar paired with battery storage, closer to the home and where it is used.”
When Tropical Storm Irene flooded Waterbury in 2011, GMP’s 80-year-old substation on Winooski Street was also flooded with several feet of water, causing significant damage. The new substation, located on Route 100 north of the Crossett Brook Middle School, is out of the 100-year floodplain. It will have twice the capacity of the existing substation and a higher voltage that will enable GMP to restore power much faster during many types of outages.
“This project is about maintaining and improving reliability for Waterbury and the surrounding communities,” Schnure continued. “In addition, this work will allow GMP to serve future growth in the area in the coming years.”
Green Mountain Power will transfer customers in the Waterbury area to the new substation in mid to late October. To do this work safely there will need to be several short outages, and customers will be notified through a mailing and press notices.