It is the first of its kind in the nation
by Diane Reed
The Orange County Register - Thursday, January 5, 2006
Construction of the first underground electrical substation in the United States is moving ahead smoothly in Anaheim Hills.
"This is a state-of-the-art project, and it demonstrates to our citizens that the City is venturing out in the area of underground electrical substation design and development," said Councilman Harry Sidhu.
The historic, $20-million project is being built into a hillside at Monte Vista and Roosevelt Road, just south of the Festival Shopping Center. Upon completion, the utility will disappear from view under a passive park. The only indication of its presence in the Hills will be some access doors along Monte Vista, behind the Target store.
"Construction was originally delayed due to heavy rains last year," Ken Noller of Anaheim Public Utilities said. "Once it got started in June 2005, it has been moving right along."
Noller expects the substation to be complete sometime in March.
Construction of Roosevelt Park, on top of the underground facility, and final testing of the electrical substation will take several months.
"I'd say testing will be done in early August," Noller said. "The facility should go on line by the end of August."
When operational, the plant will route electrical power to 20,000 homes.
"Some will be new homes and others will be existing homes. We're shifting some of the load currently served by our substation on Fairmont Boulevard," he said.
"I'm just amazed at how well it's going. We're right on schedule and have had no problems," he added.
Natalie Meeks, the City of Anaheim's development services director, was enthusiastic about the project, too.
"It is really a very innovative project with the park on top," she said. "We're administering the contract and it is running so smoothly it really hasn't crossed my desk much. It has been a great project."
Although this will be the first subterranean substation in the country, it is not unique in the world. Such facilities exist in Germany and in Japan, where property is scarce and multi-use projects are encouraged.