prepares for transformer upgrade at RBS substation

Signs of growth are popping up all over Red Boiling Springs, road construction, the continued construction of the Nestl facility, and now work on the upgrading of Tri-County EMC's RBS substation.

Last Wednesday morning, TCEMC employees supervised as employees from JL Malone and Associates out of Albany, GA, and Elliott Crane out of Nashville, off-loaded the 113,000 pound transformer at the RBS substation.

According to TCEMC director of Engineering Jim Beecham, the new transformer will "increase the capacity" of the RBS substation.

"By the time we are finished with the improvements at the RBS substation, we should have more than double the current capacity," Beecham explained.

"We are expecting the new transformer to be ready by mid August and to be up and running by the first of September."

"The upgrading is partially due to the Nestl facility, but some of the plans had been made before the plant was announced."

"When we are finished, the substation in RBS should be able to handle all the current electricity needs of Nestl and the future needs of the city."

"When this transformer is set and ready to handle the electricity needs, it will carry the load, while the old transformer is removed," Beecham continued.

"This should happen around October. Then we will set another new transformer after the old one is removed."

"When we are finished this will be a brand new substation," Beecham said.

"This will leave the RBS substation in real good shape. The upgrades should meet the needs of the are for a while."