Rochelle breaks ground on $12 M substation
RMU to build $20 M substation on west side to boost power reliability and support future growth by mid-2027.
Image for illustrative purposes / Credit: thelamephotographer, Shutterstock.com
USA, Illinois, Rochelle: Rochelle Municipal Utilities (RMU) will start construction in mid-March on a new electrical substation on Centerpoint Drive, west of the city, following the Rochelle City Council’s approval of an $11.89 M transmission line bid in January.
The $20 million-plus project aims to improve power redundancy, strengthen system resiliency, and provide the capacity needed for future commercial and industrial growth in RMU’s western service territory. This will be RMU’s second substation in five years, after completing a $13.8 M facility on Ritchie Road in 2022.
The line construction portion involves a new 34.5 kV transmission line on metal poles connecting Ritchie Road to Centerpoint Drive. Two new 132 kV substations will be built at Sandy Creek and Antiene in the Muswellbrook area. The project also includes switchgear and a transformer purchased earlier in 2024, funded entirely from RMU reserves with no impact on customer rates.
Construction will begin with road grading and site preparation, followed by foundation work and installation of the transformer and switchgear. The substation is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with transmission line energisation by mid-2027.
RMU Superintendent Blake Toliver noted that rising costs and supply chain issues have added $5-7 M to the budget but emphasised that delaying would make the project far more expensive. Once operational, the substation will address reliability concerns, add two layers of power redundancy, and enhance capacity on the western side of RMU’s territory.
Source: Shaw Local
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