Tri-State Generation and Transmission, the primary power supplier to LPEA’s distribution system in La Plata and Archuleta counties, will shut down its Bodo substation at 1 a.m. Friday to safely remove a damaged piece of equipment.
As a result, 12,530 LPEA customers who reside in the city and in the Florida Mesa and Lightner Creek areas will be without power for about two hours.
There are eight LPEA substations that receive power from the Bodo substation. To protect LPEA equipment and members, circuits on LPEA substations will be opened at 1 a.m. Friday, which will cut power to the city. Tri-State will de-energize its substation, remove the piece of equipment and re-energize the substation, which will allow LPEA to return power to each of its eight substations.
“That’s where we need to take our time,” said Justin Talbot, LPEA manager of operations. “Think of it as opening a fire hose. We cannot instantly place that much load onto our system at one time, so we will do it methodically. As a result, power will be restored in steady succession. It’s all about being safe and not causing a surge onto our system that would severely damage the equipment.”
As Tri-State upgraded its section of the Bodo substation during the past months, it was confirmed that the insulating properties of a piece of equipment were breaking down and became a safety concern. The repair procedure was deemed the safest option.
For more information, call 247-5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.
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