National Grid modernizing substations

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) National Grid is starting a modernization project, with the first at Perry Street.

David Bertola says the utility is installing 13.2 kilovolt capacity in Larkinville. "This is a direct response to load growth in the city, specifically in Larkinville and in the first ward, where customer demands are now increased," says Bertola. "We invested $32 million in the substation that dates to 1916, in order to make sure that current customers continue to have reliable electricity, but with also an eye toward the future as that area, this area continues to grow. We want to make sure that Larkinville and the First Ward continue to have what they need."

He says both the outside and inside got a makeover. "The building is old and it looks beautiful on the outside now with some new murals that pay homage to Schoellkopf and Edison and Tesla and Westinghouse. We've made those improvements on the outside and inside. It's all brand new switch gears and relays and other equipment, and it's the additional 13.2 capacity runs in addition to what we call 4160 volts that exist in order to best serve everybody," he explains.

Bertola says Larkinvlle is only the beginning. "From Larkinville, it's first ring suburbs, and then extending into like North Tonawanda. So it's Cheektowaga, Amherst. We're doing some other work within the city, and everything's in the planning stage now," notes Bertola. He says it may sound silly to say the plan is for 15 to 20 years out because so much can change." But that's the current plan, and we're always looking ahead. We're always looking at what we have available to us and what the needs might be, and we try to project and work with our customers. And as of right now, that's that's where we are," he adds.

What about data centers down the road? Bertola says National will take it as it comes. "We know that that's a hot button topic, and we know the city and the state have made decisions related to those, and we'll just have to remain in lockstep and and plan accordingly," he says.