Tucson Electric Power is building new electrical facilities, upgrading transmission lines, and making other improvements to strengthen service reliability and help meet our community’s future energy needs.
Over the last five years, TEP has invested about $1 billion to upgrade infrastructure and make other improvements to continue providing reliable service for customers. TEP plans to invest about $260 million this year alone in electric transmission and distribution facilities and other resources.
TEP crews and contractors recently completed construction of the 138-kV Orange Grove Substation on the southwest corner of West Orange Grove and North La Canada roads. The $14 million project will alleviate potential overload conditions during summer months at three nearby substations.
The new substation houses a transformer that reduces the voltage of electric current from TEP’s 138-kV transmission system for delivery to area customers. The substation also will interconnect existing 138-kV transmission lines and help meet customer energy needs in the fast-growing area. The substation is equipped with state-of-the-art breakers and protection equipment to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages.
At TEP’s Vail Substation near Interstate 10 and South Rita Road, crews have completed a $10 million upgrade that included the installation of new breakers, electrical switches, protective devices and communications equipment. The improvements help to reduce power outages by expanding the ability of electric system supervisors to remotely operate electrical equipment.
Crews have nearly completed a $2.8 million upgrade of an existing 138-kV transmission line that connects TEP’s North Loop Substation, located near West Tangerine Road and Interstate 10, to the Rancho Vistoso Substation, located near East Tangerine Road and North Copper Mountain Drive. Crews replaced more than 60 power poles. Installation of stronger, higher-capacity conductors continues along Tangerine Road in Marana, Oro Valley and unincorporated areas of Pima County.
Crews recently completed a $2.4 million upgrade of the Rancho Vistoso Substation, where new high voltage circuit breakers, electrical switches and other equipment will accommodate the transmission line upgrade.
In the Midvale Park neighborhood, crews are upgrading and installing new overhead and underground lines as part of a nearly $1 million upgrade of electrical equipment that delivers electric service to customers in the area. This work will take place along and near West Irvington and South Midvale Park roads over the next several weeks. These improvements will help prevent overload conditions, while providing greater flexibility to system operators.
Crews recently completed a $1 million upgrade of an existing 138 kV transmission line that connects TEP’s Irvington Substation, near East Irvington Road and South Alvernon Way, to the 22nd Street Substation, located near East 22nd Street and South Columbus Boulevard. Crews installed three new poles and stronger, higher-capacity conductors along a 3.5-mile route. The improvements will expand TEP’s ability to deliver service to customers in the area, particularly during the summer when demand for power is highest.
TEP’s modern electrical grid spans 1,155 square miles and includes about 5,100 miles of transmission and distribution lines, more than 4,300 cable-miles of underground distribution lines, and nearly 100,000 power poles and transmission structures.
TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to about 424,000 customers in Southern Arizona. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are units of Fortis Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean.
