To support Xcel Energy’s ongoing “Power for the Plains” project, Energy Erectors Inc. has completed a 115/12.47 kV substation in Artesia, New Mexico, which is one in a series of substation construction projects and upgrades that the firm has undertaken to help Xcel Energy boost the reliability of the grid across New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The Artesia substation replaces a previously commissioned 69/13.2 kV substation. As more people and businesses move into Xcel Energy’s New Mexico and Texas service territories, load increases and the substations play a critical role in handling a growing demand for energy by customers.
“Our construction of the Artesia substation included installation of conductors and high-voltage, low-voltage connections as well as connections for bus work and building civil infrastructure at and around the site,” said Darren Webb, vice president for Energy Erectors.
“Energy Erectors’ work supports our ability to move power into and around the area if there are outages on other major lines,” said Shane Woodard, operations manager for Xcel Energy.
In the past year – as part of the Power for the Plains project – Energy Erectors also completed about 16 other projects including constructing a 230/115 kV two-terminal ring bus design and installation of a 230/115kV transformer as part of building the Ink Basin Substation in Denver City, Texas. In 2018, Energy Erectors constructed the 345 kV Carpenter Substation in Hugoton, Kansas, for Xcel Energy.
Xcel Energy is one of the fastest-growing investor-owned transmission systems with more than 20,000 miles of transmission lines and more than 1,200 substations across 10 states, serving 22,000 megawatts of customer load. Xcel Energy has developed long-term agreements with contractors like Energy Erectors as well as other suppliers in the industry to deliver projects in a reliable, economical way for stakeholders.
“Energy Erectors has been 100-percent on time in completing every project we’ve given them,” added Woodard.
According to Woodard, that coordination and effort is what has helped Energy Erectors support the utility’s goal of completing up to 200 additional miles of transmission lines and 11 substations by 2021.
