PECO (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.) has energized the first of five new distribution circuits from its new US$22 million electric distribution substation that will meet the needs of the former Navy Yard and serve parts of South Philadelphia.

The Southwark Substation was completed after nearly three years of planning, engineering design and construction. The facility will relieve electric load on other substations in the area and ensure reliability for the growing electric demand in the southeastern quadrant of the city. It takes 69-kV electricity from the electric transmission system and converts the energy into lower voltage for local distribution to homes, businesses and other customers in the area.

PECO said Southwark is the third of four new electric substations under development to modernize the electric infrastructure and meet increasing demand in certain sections of the city. The company built the Tuna Substation along North Delaware Avenue in 2005 and completed the Waverly Substation in Center City in the spring of 2007. The fourth major investment, planned for completion in 2009, will boost electric supply for the University City and West Philadelphia area.

These projects alone represent a $120 million investment in the Philadelphia electric distribution system.