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PG&E says Monterey Substation rebuild will boost capacity and cut outage exposure
Summary
PG&E officials described a roughly $40 million Monterey Substation rebuild that will install a 30 MVA transformer, convert distribution from about 4 kV to 21 kV, and is projected to enter service in Q2 2026 to increase capacity and reduce outages.
PG&E representatives outlined plans to rebuild the Monterey Substation, saying the upgrade will add capacity and reduce outage exposure across parts of the Monterey Peninsula.
Mike McCarty, senior manager of electric distribution planning at PG&E, said the work includes a new 30 MVA transformer, two new feeders and conversion of distribution voltage from roughly 4 kV to 21 kV. “After this project, we're bringing in 30 megawatts,” McCarty said, and the company projects the work will be operational in the second quarter of 2026.
The presentation described interim steps required to complete the rebuild: installing temporary distribution equipment to carry 4 kV customers while crews decommission and replace substation equipment, reconfiguring transmission lines to permit safe in‑substation work, and installing 21 kV switchgear and additional cable to extend the higher-voltage distribution to adjacent areas.
McCarty said the project will increase both capacity and reliability. He estimated the capacity impact is equivalent to powering “over 7,500 homes” and that historical estimates show the upgrade will cut outage exposure in the area by about 50 percent. He said the substation will give about 15 MVA of headroom for new loads, while additional local line upgrades would still be required to serve specific developments.
Jeremy Howard, PG&E regional senior manager for the Central Coast Division, described community reaction as largely positive after recent storms. “We had 182 locations here in Monterey County that were impacted,” Howard said, describing mostly tree- and branch-related damage during the winter storms and noting that additional operational flexibility should speed restorations.
PG&E said the rebuilt substation will provide operational benefits for nearby circuits and named local sites expected to benefit, including Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pacific Grove. Moderator and presenters agreed to share the slide deck with media partners for additional technical detail.
The company framed the project as prioritizing reliability while leaving room to add equipment later: McCarty said the substation design will permit installing another transformer in future if demand warrants without repeating transmission work, though distribution-side upgrades to serve particular locations would still be necessary.
PG&E officials took no formal actions or votes at the briefing; they presented technical and schedule information and answered moderator questions.
