Cooperative News

PEC partners with TPWD to update infrastructure at Guadalupe River State Park

Replacement of aging equipment will bring improved electric reliability

12.15.16

PEC has partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife to completely replace the aging electrical infrastructure at Guadalupe River State Park near Spring Branch. Work began Nov. 14 in three areas: the river access, Turkey Sink campground and Cedar Sage campground.

Four men stand in a line outdoors in front of construction equipment.
Pictured, from left to right: TPWD Backup Utility Plant Operator Terre Davila, PEC Line Inspector Jack Grigg, TPWD Assistant Park Superintendent Joel Parker and TPWD Lead Utility Plant Operator Russell Miller.
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“We’re pleased to be able to collaborate with the State of Texas on this project,” PEC Line Inspector Jack Grigg said. “It has certainly been good to work with these gentlemen to get this going, and I believe the improved electric reliability will be good both for them and for us.”

The construction will include the addition of a new three-phase transformer pad to relocate a pair of transformers in a low-lying area subject to flooding. These transformers do a very important job: power the sewer lift station for the entire park.

Two new riser poles are also being added. One will feed the new transformer pad, alleviating the need to remove several trees and improving access for maintenance. The other will serve as an above-ground back-feed of the Turkey Sink campground, avoiding the need to bore beneath Park Road 31.

A utility truck near an electric pole at the park, with a PEC lineworker working in the bucket.
Lineworkers from PEC’s Canyon Lake district climb the electric pole and use a bucket truck to replace the electric equipment and improve service to the state park.

“Texas Parks and Wildlife performed all necessary environmental studies and found that our proposed work will be acceptable with their policies,” Grigg said. “They only asked that we do not introduce any foreign soil to the park except for the manufactured sand needed to bed and cover our conduit. Should additional backfill material be needed, they have native soil available on site that can be used.”

The first phase of the project, the river access, was completed near the Thanksgiving holiday. Work on the following phase will require Texas Parks and Wildlife to close the affected campgrounds from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1.