BEAVER TOWNSHIP Power company to build 2nd substation in 2 years

The second substation will be built off Western Reserve Road.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township residents likely will not see a new substation in their community for at least two years, says a representative from the power company that services the area.
Paul Harkey, area manager for Ohio Edison/First Energy, recently told a group of about 30 residents, including township officials, that the new substation has been appropriated in Ohio Edison's 2006 budget.
Complaints
Township trustees asked Harkey to speak at a recent township meeting after some area residents complained about power outages that plagued the area during recent storms.
Harkey said there have been sporadic power outages in the area, but overall, the company is pleased with how its equipment has held up through recent storms.
"Actually, there have only been seven power outages in close to three years in this area," Harkey said. "I think that's pretty good. And none of those have been related to equipment failure, but are actually weather-related, including what we've experienced this past spring."
Beaver Township is serviced by a single substation out of North Lima. Ohio Edison announced several years ago, however, its intention to build a second substation in the northern part of Beaver Township off Western Reserve Road.
A second substation used to service a single area is considered a dual, or loop system, Harkey explained. That means if the main substation, in this case the one in North Lima, goes out, the second substation would kick in and act as a backup power source.
"We think a second substation will help, especially if there is a problem with equipment," Harkey said. "But a weather-related [power] outage is another story. We can't control the weather."
Cost estimates
Harkey said cost estimates for building the second substation have not been finalized. Ohio Edison is trying to cover the expense without increasing its rates.
"Our rates have been frozen for 14 years," he said. "We're trying to keep them where they are. We don't want to raise them."
Meanwhile, Harkey said, Ohio Edison has decided to accelerate its tree-trimming program to keep power lines from being hit by falling trees and branches. The company had originally planned to trim and cut trees along power lines next year, but decided the work needed to be completed sooner.
"With the amount of rain we've had this year, of course everything, the trees and vegetation, have grown quickly," he said. "And trees and fallen tree limbs, as we all know, affect power lines when there's a storm. So taking care of that is something we're doing immediately to prevent some foreseeable problems."