‘Dead Horse’ Substation On Line

HARRISONBURG — The Harrisonburg Electric Commission brought online its ninth power distribution substation, known as Dead Horse, on Smithland Road Monday afternoon.

 

HEC last added a substation in 2000.

 

General Manager Brian O’Dell said the substation increases reliability to northeastern Harrisonburg and adds capacity to the system. It serves thousands of customers who had relied on power from substations on East Market and Reservoir streets and Mount Clinton Pike.

 

Those customers will not notice any changes to their power service with the new substation, O’Dell added.

 

Construction on the $2.7 million project began a year ago across from the Smithland Road athletic fields. The property is known as the Dead Horse Farm because, according to legend, area farmers once brought their deceased horses to the property for disposal, O’Dell said.

 

The facility includes a power transformer and power circuit breakers, all built to last at least 40 years.

 

HEC is a political subdivision of the city. Harrisonburg City Council appoints five commissioners to govern its operations.

 

The utility, based on West Bruce Street, has more than 20,000 customers in the city limits.

 

Contact Preston Knight at 574-6272 or pknight@dnronline.com