B.C. Hydro is about to juice up its output with a new substation in South Wellington.
Construction will begin almost right away on the site, which has already been prepared for the $26-million facility on Nanaimo River Road near the power company’s transmission lines and existing gravel mining operations.
Ted Olynyk, B.C. Hydro spokesman, said the substation will serve about 20,000 customers in an area that includes south Nanaimo, Gabriola Island and Ladysmith.
The build is due to increasing demand from existing customers, current development and anticipated future development in the region.
“It’s for ongoing growth that’s happening in the south of Nanaimo,” Olynyk said. “It will also provide diversity of service in other areas as well, so that we’ll have another way to feed them and it will take the pressure off because we’re at or nearing capacity on some lines.”
Underground distribution lines will be installed along Nanaimo River Road to the Island Highway.
The current nearest substations serving the region are located near Tenth Street in Harewood and on Jingle Pot Road.
The contract to build the substation has been awarded to Nanaimo-based F&M Installations.
The facility is scheduled to enter service in October of next year.
For more information about the project, please visit the B.C. Hydro website at www.bchydro.com, click on the Energy and B.C. tab and then click on Projects.