Puget Sound Energy substation and transmission project
Central Pierce-Alderton 115 kV transmission reliability improvement project
Summer 2010 project updates
- Puget Sound Energy is currently in the engineering and permitting phase
- Construction is expected to begin in late 2011
Project overview
PSE plans to construct three 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines from points along our existing local 115 kV transmission system to our Alderton substation, 14450 Old Military Road, Puyallup. Two of the new 115 kV lines are proposed to run from our existing 115 kV transmission line at Myers Road East near Highway 410 to Alderton substation. These new transmission lines will run approximately 3.2 miles and parallel the existing Bonneville Power Administration lines and PSE-owned land. The third line is proposed to run approximately four miles along an existing water main corridor from our existing Rhodes Lake substation, 19650 Rhodes Lake Road, Bonney Lake, to Alderton substation. PSE is building the new transmission lines to increase the reliability and capacity of the electric system in the Bonney Lake and Orting/central Pierce County areas.
Currently, the system that ties together three major substations from Auburn, Enumclaw and Electron Heights has limited capacity and redundancy, meaning if the line serving the substation goes out, the substation and the customers served by it may lose power. The addition of the three new transmission lines to Alderton substation will create a “loop,” which means that the substation will be fed by two transmission lines. Once complete, if one line goes out, the other line will continue to provide power to our substation and the customers in the area.
What is a transmission line?
Transmission lines are key elements in the electrical distribution system. The lines safely transport high voltage electricity from power sources like dams and wind generating facilities to substations in local communities. Transmission normally takes place at voltages of 55 kV and higher.
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 information
Download these PDF files for more detail on PSE's Central Pierce 115 kV transmission reliability improvement project.
Fact sheet, February 2010 (160 KB PDF)
Project map (247 KB PDF)
Fact sheet (161 KB PDF)
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