New Substation Takes Shape
The Moncure Substation is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027 and placed into service shortly thereafter.
Why Build a New Substation?
Central Electric’s service territory continues to experience steady growth. New residential developments, business expansions, and infrastructure investments throughout portions of Lee and Chatham counties are placing additional demand on the electric system. While adding electric service to a new subdivision is a routine part of utility operations, ensuring the larger electric system has the capacity to support that growth requires long-term planning.
“Building a substation isn’t something you decide to do next week,” said Nathan Stephens, Manager of Engineering. “It takes years of planning, analysis, permitting, equipment procurement and construction to make sure the facility is located where it will provide the greatest benefit to our members.” In fact, planning for the Moncure Substation began over three years ago, long before construction crews started clearing land earlier this year.
Supporting Growth and Reliability
The new substation was identified as a priority for two primary reasons. First, it will provide additional capacity to serve rapidly growing areas of the cooperative’s system. Second, the substation will improve overall system reliability. Substations work together as part of an interconnected electric system.
During outages, Central Electric can often reroute, or “backfeed,” power from a neighboring source while crews make repairs. Adding another strong source of power to the area will create additional flexibility and strengthen service throughout eastern Lee County, southern Chatham County, and surrounding communities. The project will also help relieve demand on existing substations, including facilities that have faithfully served members for decades.
A Long-Term Investment
Constructing a substation is a significant undertaking. Before construction could begin, Central Electric completed engineering studies, load forecasts, environmental reviews, permitting requirements, and system analyses. Once the site was approved, contractors began clearing and grading the property in January. The next phases include site preparation, concrete foundations, installation of major electrical equipment and system connections. Major components such as power transformers often take years to manufacture and deliver, making advanced planning more important than ever.
Looking Ahead
When completed, the Moncure Substation will become an important piece of Central Electric’s long-term reliability strategy. The project reflects the cooperative’s commitment to staying ahead of growth rather than reacting after demand has already outpaced infrastructure.
As communities across our service territory continue to expand, investments like the Moncure Substation ensure Central Electric remains prepared to provide the safe, reliable and affordable electricity members depend on every day.