Puget Sound Energy electric transmission project
Fredonia 115 kV transmission line
Fall 2008 project completetion
- PSE completed construction of the Fredonia 115 kV transmission line project in September 2008
Project overview
To increase reliability to Fredonia and surrounding areas in Skagit County, Puget Sound Energy installed a new 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and 115 kV circuit breakers. (A circuit breaker is a protection device that interrupts the flow of power by opening the electrical contact when an abnormal event occurs on the system, such as a tree falling through the power lines.) The new 0.4-mile transmission line runs between our Olympic Bay View and Fredonia substations. This $1.1 million project does not only enable PSE to increase reliability to this corridor, which serves oil refineries and the Wilson substation, but also to supply more power to the entire Skagit County 115 kV transmission system.
While the new transmission line and circuit breakers were installed, we also re-configured our electrical system to keep the power on for area residents and businesses.
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 farms 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 that switch, change or regulate electric voltage. Before reaching homes and businesses, the high voltage power flows through substations, which transform it to lower voltages.
Download information
Download these PDF files for more detail on PSE's Fredonia 115kV electric transmission project.
Project map (106 KB PDF)
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