Black & Veatch (Kansas City, Missouri), through its construction subsidiary Overland Contracting Inc., is providing the engineering, procurement and construction services for the installation of a new 500/230-kV autotransformer bank consisting of four single-phase units to Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s (PG&E) Metcalf Substation, located in San Jose, California.

The Metcalf project is designed to increase PG&E's load capacity and reliability to the San Jose and San Francisco areas. The project will introduce a third bulk-power transformer bank with major modifications to the 500-kV and 230-kV switchyards that will improve station reliability by reinforcing the existing two banks and by providing a “safety net” if another bank requires maintenance.

Increasing the station's reliability will increase the system's reliability, because Metcalf is a key station in providing power to the high-tech Silicon Valley area. Detailed engineering design began in July 2001, construction began in February 2002, and station energization is scheduled for September 2002.
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