Ameren Illinois lineworkers and substation electricians are taking a proactive approach to keeping the lights on as the Ohio River continues to rise near Old Shawneetown, Shawneetown and Junction. With the Ameren electric substation that serves customers in the community predicted to be inoperable due to flooding conditions, the company is installing a portable substation on higher ground to ensure a continuous flow of power until conditions improve.
To get the mobile substation up and running, crews pulled the heavy equipment onto higher ground in
the area, installed cables to the portable unit, energized it and then rerouted power from the existing in
substation Old Shawneetown to the portable unit. To keep the mobile substation safe and secure, the
crew set up a temporary fence. The company is also taking extra precautionary steps to make the local
community aware that it is an active, energized substation.
Ameren Illinois has 22 portable substations already secured on trailers and ready to be transported
where they are needed. When needed, the mobile units can restore power to thousands of homes while
repairs are being made to substation equipment that has malfunctioned. Ameren Illinois maintains
several portable substations at its material distribution center in Decatur and stages several other
portable substations at operating centers throughout its 43,700-square mile service territory.
“You’ve heard the saying many hands make light work," says Martin Wooden, Gallatin County Emergency Manager. "That is true with so many people coming together to handle the obstacles associated with this flood. Ameren Illinois took note from the 2011 flood and was proactive bringing in the portable substation. We cannot stress how vital that has been to our planning. Ameren Illinois and the substation is the #1 critical infrastructure to support our county … without electricity, we don’t have water supply, sewer treatments, etc.”
Once flood waters recede, lineworkers and substation electricians will check the permanent substation
for damage and eventually route power through the permanent facility once again.
