After over a year of planning and construction, the Citizens Electric Corporation (CEC) team will soon bring life to the lines and metal of the Crosstown site substation.  This substation is the newest to be integrated into a system of more than 51 transmission and distribution substations across the CEC territory.  CEC substations are connected by over 250 miles of high-voltage transmission lines within CEC's 1,200 square mile service area.  

Energizing day means lineworkers will remove protective grounds, electrical crews will make sure switches are closing properly, and technicians and engineers double-check ratings and relays.  Supervisory Engineer, Steve Hlavek develops a checklist of elements that need to come together to energize the substation safely and flawlessly.  The Crosstown substation is the next link in the CEC grid that rapidly has become more connected, intelligent, and reliable, due in large part to prudent investments in infrastructure, maintenance, and technology upgrades over the last decade.  This project is all part of the long-range plan supporting reliability and dependability for members in the Altenburg, Longtown, Perryville, and McBride areas.

Adding substations to the Citizens Electric grid allows for:

• Improved redundancy
• Maintenance performance without interruption
• Adequate voltage support for growth
• Improved power reliability