Mobile “Substation on Wheels” Energized in Rice County

For the first time ever, a mobile substation Midwest Energy purchased in 2019 was put into service in northern Rice County on Sept. 2.  The mobile sub will convert 34.5kV energy to distribution-level voltages, and serve customers on several circuits while work is performed at the new Skelly Substation.    

“We bought this substation for situations like this, where you need to provide service to customers while upgrading or rebuilding a substation, or when a substation or

transformer goes offline,” said Randy VanAllen, Manager of Protection Systems.  “You can basically tow this thing anywhere and set it up in a matter of a few days when needed.”

This substation differs from the new skid-mounted substation installed in Atwood in late May.  That substation, which arrived on a flatbed truck, was designed to be lifted onto a concrete pad, bolted in and and placed into permanent operation.  This mobile substation is designed to spend its life on a trailer, towed from site to site as needed, and in operation for periods that range from weeks to months, though it could operate longer if needed. 

The mobile substation, which cost $1.1 million, was manufactured by Delta Star Incorporated of Lynchburg, Va., which specializes in mobile substations of all sizes.  The mobile substation Midwest purchased is rated for 34.5 kV to 13.2 kV at a maximum load of 6.25 MVA.

“Midwest has dozens of wooden substations that will need replaced in coming decades,”  VanAllen added.  “Having this asset will help ensure that replacing those substations can be done seamlessly, with little to no impact on the customer.”