Substation upgrade requires power interruptions near Henly
Project to improve area electric reliability
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, PEC will begin an upgrade of its Henly substation, located on Highway 290 west of Dripping Springs. Planned power outages will take place in that area on the following days, with about 1,690 meters affected. Affected members will be notified by letter or automated phone call.
Dates and times of the planned power outages are below:
- Wednesday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
“Years of planning have gone into this project to keep outage times as short as possible,” said PEC Construction/Service Manager James Valdez. “Members can help speed the work by leaving gates unlocked, securing dogs and flagging septic tanks and other underground equipment near electric poles.”
Projects like this one are essential for supporting the region’s increased energy demand and maintaining a modern, efficient distribution system. As substation electricians convert the substation transformer to a higher voltage, lineworkers change the fuses and settings on all the transformers connected to that feeder line. The higher voltage lowers the amperage of the current through the line, reducing heat on the wires that could impact reliability over time.
The conversion project may also have an impact on morning traffic. Texas Department of Public Safety staff will close one lane of Highway 290 near Henly the mornings of the conversions to help a fleet of 110 PEC trucks head out from their morning safety meeting at Stone Valley Outdoor Music Park.