Erie thinks over temporary power
substation
Xcel Energy says outages likely in town this
summer
ERIE — Power company workers say the town could face
summer outages if a temporary electrical substation isn’t installed soon.
Michael Diehl of Xcel Energy Corp. told the town Board of Trustees last week
that residents could see spotty service this summer if construction on the
facility doesn’t begin quickly.
“If the lights go out in July, you’ve been warned,” he told the group.
According to Xcel officials, one of the lines running from Lafayette that
provides Erie residents with electricity is operating at 25 percent above
capacity. The other line is operating at 97 percent of capacity.
“We think that power outages during the hottest part of the day are likely
at this point,” Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz said.
So Xcel officials have asked the town to let them install a temporary
substation that would provide service to 3,000 customers — and buy Xcel more
time to negotiate with the town to build a permanent substation.
“That is not a guarantee that they won’t have outages,” Stutz said of
the temporary station.
The town is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether the substation — which
would be housed on a section of town-owned land east of the sewage treatment
plant — can be installed.
Once that decision is made, Stutz said, officials can again concentrate on
planning a permanent substation.
United Power, which also provides electricity to Erie residents, for three
years was in talks with Xcel and the town to jointly build a substation. But
United backed out this year, leaving the decision to officials from Erie and
Xcel, which provides service to residents who live in Old Town and west of Coal
Creek and County Line Road.
A permanent substation could provide power to 9,500 homes.
Stutz said Xcel has identified potential locations for such a facility, but
the town disagreed with the choices.
Stutz wouldn’t reveal those locations, citing confidentiality reasons. But
town spokesman Fred Diehl said Erie officials nixed one of the sites because of
nearby cottonwood trees.
“The town did not want to (cut down the trees),” he said.
The site for the temporary substation east of the sewage-treatment plant
won’t require any tree removal, Diehl said.
Stutz said Xcel will immediately begin installing the substation if the town
approves the proposal this week.
Meanwhile, until a permanent substation is built, Xcel officials are advising
Erie residents to be frugal with electricity, particularly between 3 and 7 p.m.,
when use is at its peak.
“Try to put off activities that use electricity during that time, like a
load of wash or running the dishwasher,” Stutz said.
Amanda Arthur can be reached at 303-684-5215 or aarthur@times-call.com
.
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