USA, Colorado, Colorado Springs: Colorado Springs Utilities has reached the halfway point in its ambitious $130 M expansion of the Kelker substation, a critical project that will more than double the size of the site and modernise equipment to handle rising power demand well into the future.
Located near South Academy Boulevard and Hancock Expressway, the 4,000-m2 (19-acre) substation, originally built in the 1960s, is being transformed into the city’s largest power hub. Construction began in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in early 2028.
“This is probably the most complex substation project Colorado Springs Utilities will ever take on,” said Project Manager Zach Shearer. “As far as the different current levels needed in an electric system, this one has everything.”
The station will feature advanced safety and reliability measures, including 3-m-tall (10-foot-tall) circuit breakers capable of handling 230,000 V loads, buried copper coils for grounding, and redundant battery systems to maintain communications in the event of outages.
The next phase, starting later this year, will involve demolition and replacement of ageing equipment, carefully coordinated with other providers to avoid service disruption. Some of the decommissioned equipment will be relocated to other substations or kept as emergency backup.
Kelker is one of about 50 substations across the city, serving as a key node in converting high-voltage electricity from power plants into lower voltages for neighbourhood distribution. Its central location and extensive connections made it the ideal choice for investment.
The expansion is part of a wider programme of projects, including Colorado Springs’ first battery storage system, capable of holding 100 MW, and the planned $650 M Horizon Utility Campus south of the city airport.
Source: The Gazette
