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RMLP: substation testing set for Feb. 9; Kittery Ave conversion nears completion
Summary
General Manager Matthew Brown reported Feb. 9 control-wiring tests for the substation with hopes to energize phase one in early March; the Kittery Ave conversion is ready for energizing and the MLP now serves 39 residential solar systems.
General Manager Matthew Brown told the Rowley Municipal Lighting Plant commissioners on Jan. 28 that control wiring for the utility’s substation is complete and that UPG is scheduled to test the wiring on Feb. 9, a step Brown said will take about a week and could allow energizing phase one in early March.
"We have a goal of February 9th to have all this wiring done and completed. UPG is scheduled to test all the control wiring on February 9th," Brown said, adding that the utility received test results from Virginia Transformers and a letter to energize. He said the current half of the substation will be completed now, with the remaining half planned for completion by summer 2026.
Brown also updated commissioners on the Kittery Ave conversion project, reporting that poles and new primary have been installed, secondary wire pulls are complete, and crews are preparing to energize the new primary cable to place load on the upgraded line. He described the Kittery Ave work as the final piece in converting the three-phase 5KV step-down area and said single-phase step-down areas (including Leslie Road and Railroad Ave) remain on the schedule.
On distributed generation, Brown said the MLP had 38 residential solar systems in service and that a new solar customer as of Feb. 9 brought the total to 39, with one additional application still in the queue. He noted ongoing local construction activity at Harbor Light Homes, the Old Spud's site and a Chase Bank location; site visits have occurred.
Brown reviewed storm response to Jan. 25-26, saying crews responded to a call about a tree branch on Ellsworth Road and that the agency will monitor forecasted storms. He emphasized that the tree-trimming program helps reduce outage risk during storms.
The board did not take formal action on these operational updates; Brown said he would keep the board advised on the substation schedule and related capital work.
