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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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Kitsap County

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Puget Sound Energy electric transmission and substation project


Bainbridge Island transmission line and substation




Summer 2010 project updates
  • Puget Sound Energy is reviewing all public comments and electric system improvement options
  • We expect to announce our proposed plan in September 2010

Project overview

PSE’s analysis of the electric needs on Bainbridge Island shows our two substations serving two-thirds of Bainbridge Island – Murden Cove built in 1980 and Winslow built in 1966 – are approaching their maximum capacity. On cold winter days, high electric usage on the island (known as “peak load”) forces the transformers to operate at levels well above designed capacity. This threatens to damage the substation equipment, increases the risk for system failure and could cause potentially lengthy outages and expensive repairs. In addition, overloading substation equipment beyond certain limits results in an accumulative loss of equipment life that can lead to premature failure. Compounding this peak load problem, both substations are served by only one transmission line, which impacts reliability. If the line serving one of these substations goes out, the substation will shut down and thousands of customers will lose power.

After several years of research and customer and community discussions, PSE has developed three electric system improvement options for addressing these capacity and reliability issues. While they differ, all three options include energy efficiency, conservation, infrastructure and capacity components.

Option 1: Community-Based Reliability and Capacity Solution
  • Energy efficiency and conservation tools; energy management program provided by PSE
  • Community energy efficiency and conservation programs supported by PSE
  • Expand Winslow or Murden Cove substation
  • No new transmission loop
  • PSE and community jointly explore how to account for potential negative impact on local energy system reliability with our regulator, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, which tracks outage duration and frequency in our service area

Option 2: PSE Alternative Reliability and Capacity Solution
  • Energy efficiency and conservation tools; energy management program provided by PSE
  • Community energy efficiency and conservation programs supported by PSE
  • Expand Winslow or Murden Cove substation
  • New transmission loop
  • Improved local electric system reliability

Option 3: PSE Recommended Reliability and Capacity Solution
  • Energy efficiency and conservation tools; energy management program provided by PSE
  • Community energy efficiency and conservation programs supported by PSE
  • New (third) substation
  • New transmission loop
  • Highest level of local electric system reliability

      For more information about each of these options, please download the FAQ.

      Contact us:
      You may contact us about this project by e-mail at PSETalk@pse.com or via U.S. mail at:

      Attn: Bainbridge Project EST-05E
      Puget Sound Energy
      PO Box 97034
      Bellevue, WA 98009-9942

      You may also contact Linda Streissguth, Government and Community Relations Manager, at 360-475-7045, or Heather Brickey, Project Manager, at 425-456-2848.

      Download full size map

      Project map
      (445 KB PDF)

      What is a transmission line?

      Transmission lines are key elements in the electrical distribution system. The lines safely transport high voltage electricity from power generation sources like dams and wind generating facilities to substations in local communities. Transmission normally takes place at voltages of 55 kV and higher.

      What is a substation?

      Substations are critical links in the electricity distribution system, containing utility circuit protection, voltage regulation, and equipment that steps down higher voltage to lower voltage. Before reaching homes and businesses, power is routed through our transmission system to a substation where it is changed to a lower voltage that can be utilized by customers.


      Committed to keeping you informed

      PSE will continue to provide updates to the community. We will notify residents and businesses near the project area when construction will occur. We aim to complete the work with as little disruption as possible.

      For information on electric and magnetic fields, please view PSE's EMF statement.


      Download the information

      Download these PDF files for more detail on the Bainbridge Island substation and 115 kV electric transmission project.

      April and May meetings 2010
      Meeting invite, April 2010
      (50 KB PDF)       		Print ad
      (348 KB PDF)       		Comment card
      (139 KB PDF)
      FAQ
      (51 KB PDF)       		Bainbridge Review article Bainbridge Review guest column

      Meeting invite, rev. April 16, 2010
      (50 KB PDF)

       

      Existing conditions
      Existing conditions

      Includes information on existing infrastructure, energy demands and history of island electricity

      Capacity challenges
      Capacity challenges

      Includes information on island peak energy demands

      Reliability challenges

      Reliability challenges
      Outage poster, revised April 2010 Includes information on island power outages and history of infrastructure improvements

      Infrastructure solutions – 3 options
      Infrastructure solutions – 3 options
      Options comparison matrix

      Includes information on three options for infrastructure improvement

      Energy efficiency
      Energy efficiency, revised April 2010
      Energy efficiency

      Includes information on island energy efficiency programs and demand response pilot

      Project timeline
      Project timeline

      Includes information on the current project timeline

      Site and route options
      Transmission line route options
      Substation site options

      Includes information on transmission line route options, and site options for expanding an existing substation or building a new substation

       

      October meeting 2008  April meeting 2009 August Meeting 2009
      Kitsap Sun article Presentation, April 20, 2009
      (3 MB PDF)       		Meeting invite
      (137 KB PDF)
      Bainbridge Review article Meeting invite, April 2009
      (128 KB PDF)       		Substation alternatives
      (26 KB PDF)
      Environmentally sensitive areas
      (555 KB PDF)       		Combined growth graph
      (43 KB PDF)       		Undergrounding transmission, Feb. 2010 
      (200 KB PDF)
      Substation site objectives
      (74 KB PDF)       		Environmentally sensitive areas
      (5.6 MB PDF)       		Presentation Aug. 25, 2009
      (811 KB PDF)
      Opportunities for community input
      (76 KB PDF)       		Existing facilities on Bainbridge Island
      (1.6 MB PDF)       		News release Oct. 7, 2009
      Peak load chart
      (227 KB PDF)       		Existing facilities on south Bainbridge Island
      (6.7 MB PDF)
      Community Ad
      (446 KB PDF)       		Existing substation photos
      (1.4 MB PDF)       		 
      Bainbridge Island fact sheet
      (32 KB PDF)       		Peak load information
      (128 KB PDF)
      Existing facilities on Bainbridge Island
      (445 KB PDF)       		Planning for reliability
      (347 KB PDF)
      Existing facilities on South Bainbridge Island
      (443 KB PDF)       		Route segment options
      (961 KB PDF)
      Substation photos
      (489 KB PDF)       		Is there a better site for a future substation?
      (4.6 MB PDF)
      Planning for reliability flow chart
      (804 KB PDF)








       


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