Reliability is a responsibility that Duke Energy takes very seriously. To keep that commitment, we are upgrading the power transmission system in Erlanger, Ky., which will provide continued reliability of the area’s energy.
Beginning in fall 2018, Duke Energy will begin construction on expanding the Donaldson Substation, located at 501 Erlanger Road, in Erlanger, Ky. The substation will be doubling its size with the installation of two 138/13.2-kilovolt (kV) transformers to serve the need for energy in this growing area.
Preconstruction work – including vegetation clearing, as well as clearing and grading the area for the new transformers and expanding the fence on Duke Energy property – will get underway in September. The fence will be expanding approximately 47 feet to the west as well as about 60 feet toward Erlanger Road on Duke Energy property. The September construction also will include the installation of a large retaining wall on the western side of the property. Staking the property boundaries for vegetation clearing and for the fence expansion will begin in August 2018.
The majority of the construction, including the installation of the new transformers to convert energy to high or low voltage levels as well as other upgraded equipment, will get underway in January 2019. We expect to have all substation upgrades complete by June 2019.
Project Need
The city of Erlanger is located in Kenton County, the third-largest county in the commonwealth and the largest county in Northern Kentucky. The need for energy has grown in Northern Kentucky as a result of the area’s growth in population and businesses. The substation expansion helps ensure continued reliability for businesses and customers in the years ahead, plus supports city efforts to attract new businesses to the area.
Benefits to the Community
- Improves electrical system reliability
- Better addresses the impact of severe weather in the city
- Maintains a robust system for supplying and delivering energy, which is integral to ensuring the continued economic growth and prosperity of the city
- Improves power quality and reliability for the decades ahead
Project Timeline
August 2018 – Staking property boundaries for the expansion and for vegetation clearing
September 2018 – Vegetation clearing begins, along with construction for grading and expanding the footprint of the substation. The September construction also will include the installation of a large retaining wall on the western side of the property.
January 2019 – Installation of the new transformers and other equipment. The work also involves adding a second 90-foot-long retaining wall inside the substation and installing new lighting for security.
June 2019 – Expected completion of construction, energizing and equipment testing, as well as final restoration outside the fence.
Engagement
Community engagement allows us to receive input and to share information about this vital project. Property owners in the area of the substation first received mailed information about the project in July 2018.
