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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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Pierce County

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Puget Sound Energy substation and transmission conversion


Enumclaw-Buckley-Burnett-Wilkeson-Carbonado-Orting area substation and transmission conversion




Summer 2010 project updates
  • Puget Sound Energy completed phase I in October 2009 and phase II in July 2010
  • Construction for additional phases will continue from 2011 through 2014

Project Overview

To increase reliability and meet growing customer demand for power in the Enumclaw, Buckley, Burnett, Wilkeson, Carbonado and Orting areas, PSE is upgrading our existing low-voltage 55 kilovolt (kV) substations and transmission line to our now current standard of 115 kV. The multi-year project entails converting the voltage of 20.2 miles of transmission line between the cities of Enumclaw and Orting and a switching station, converting or completely rebuilding four substations, and adding a fiber-optic line.


Download full-size map
Project map
(181 KB PDF)

2009 projects

Electron Heights to Stevenson 115 kV transmission line rebuild, Phase I: PSE rebuilt eight miles of existing 55 kV transmission line to 115 kV line standards from our Stevenson switch, 1035 Stevenson Ave., Enumclaw, to just past our Wilkeson substation, located at 213 Church St. in Wilkeson. The new transmission line will not be energized to 115 kV until the project is complete in 2014.

2010 projects

Electron Heights to Stevenson 115 kV transmission line rebuild, Phase II: PSE plans to rebuild the final 12.2 miles of existing 55 kV transmission line to 115 kV transmission line standards from our Wilkeson substation to our Electron Heights switching station, 19319 Electron Road, Orting.

2011-2014 projects

  • Install a 115 kV capacitor bank within our Krain Corner substation, 10801 268th Ave. SE, Enumclaw. Construction is planned to begin in 2013.
  • Convert our Enumclaw substation, 2201 Battersby Ave., Enumclaw, to 115 kV by installing a new 115 kV transformer and other related equipment. Construction is planned to begin in 2013.
  • Install a new 115 kV transformer and other related equipment at our Wilkeson substation. Construction is planned to begin in 2013.
  • Install a new fiber line between our "new" Buckley and Krain Corner substations.
  • Demolish our old Buckley substation and build a new Buckley substation off 112th Street East. Construction is planned to begin in 2013.
  • Convert a portion of our Electron Heights switching station to 115 kV to accommodate the new 115 kV line.
  • Convert the voltage from 55 kV to our now current standard of 115 kV. Conversion is expected to be completed by 2014.

      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.


      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.


      What is a fiber-optic line?

      A fiber-optic line or optical fiber is a glass fiber that is designed to direct light along its length and is used for communication purposes. The fiber-optic lines used in our electric system are small, half-inch in diameter lines. Fiber-optic is light, less expensive, and able to carry much more information than radio and microwave communication.


      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.

      Download the information

      Download these PDF files for more detail on PSE’s Enumclaw-Buckley-Burnett-Wilkeson area substation and transmission conversion project.
      Community ad (238 KB PDF)
      Outage notice, Sept. 2009 (73 KB PDF)
      News release (9/7/2009)
      News release (7/25/2009)
      News article (25 KB PDF)
      Construction print ad July 15, 2009 (503 KB PDF)
      Outage map (532 KB PDF)
      Outage notice, July 2009 (73 KB PDF)
      Construction notice, July 2009 (59 KB PDF)
      Fact sheet, July 2009 (143 KB PDF)
      Project map (181 KB PDF)


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