Pepco to Increase Capacity with New Substation
Waterfront Substation, Buzzard Point
Project Overview
Pepco is always working to provide safe, reliable electric
service to our customers, and to support the needs of the
region. As part of this commitment, we have identified the
need to construct a new distribution substation within the
Ward 6, Buzzard Point area of the District of Columbia. The
proposed Waterfront Substation is needed to support
existing customers and planned development in the Capitol
Riverfront and Southwest Waterfront areas and to replace
aging infrastructure. The new substation is expected to be
placed in service by June 2017.
Architectural Rendering of the future
Waterfront Substation
Project Work Plan Description
Phase 1: Substation site preparation and design
• November 2013 - April 2015
o Pepco will complete environmental studies, evaluate environmental impacts, and will begin site demolition
approvals. We have completed a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment and have completed
geotechnical testing. Demolition of the current infrastructure will commence in the first quarter of 2015.
Phase 2: Regulatory authorization and zoning
• June 2014 - May 2015
o Pepco will file for zoning authorization with the BZA and has filed a notice of construction with the District
of Columbia Public Service Commission for new transmission lines and a substation. While these
authorizations typically take between six to nine months, the public will have an opportunity to address its
concerns at public hearings, meetings and open houses.
Phase 3: Construction of the substation, transmission and distribution lines
• January 2015 - June 2017
o Construction of the Waterfront Substation is essential for maintaining and improving the overall reliability
and electric service for customers in the communities surrounding the substation. As part of this
enhancement project, Pepco has outlined three phases of construction leading up to the targeted
completion date of 2017.
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Phase 3: Substation construction time-line
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Transmission Construction (Jan. 2015 - Oct 2016)
o Pepco will install four underground duct banks
and 138kV transmission lines to supply the
substation. The proposed route is depicted on
the map to the right.
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Substation Construction (May 2015 – March 2017)
o In this phase, Pepco will construct an indoor
substation located on the 100 block of Q St.,
SW. The substation will have an ultimate
capacity of 350 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) to
accommodate the area’s projected long-term
growth. Pepco will design the Waterfront
Substation with the community in mind. The
building’s aesthetics and architectural features
are meant to seamlessly tie into the
neighborhood setting.
•
Distribution Construction (April 2016 – June 2017)
o Pepco will install eight to twelve underground
duct banks and begin transferring thirty-four
13kV distribution lines from the Buzzard Point
Substation. Engineering continues to assess
what streets will be most impacted by this work.
We will provide details on the exact locations as
we learn them in the upcoming months.
Proposed Substation and Impacted Streets
Impact on the Community
Pepco will continue to work diligently to minimize the impact of the scheduled work on residents and business owners. We
will continue to provide updates as we progress and want to ensure that you are informed about possible impacts with the
following facts:
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All work will be performed within the times identified in the construction permit.
Pepco will restore all roadways and sidewalks impacted by the construction.
Pepco will use mitigating procedures to minimize any dust emissions as a result of demolition of the existing
buildings.
Pepco anticipates that noise levels will be consistent with typical building construction within the District and will
make every attempt to minimize disturbances throughout this process.
Pepco anticipates that there are no wildlife risks as part of this process.
Pepco will be completing environmental tests and will be following all regulations as outlined by the District of
Columbia and Federal Government.
Pepco’s Commitment: Keeping you Informed
Our commitment is to keep those in the project area informed every step of the way. We will notify residents and business
owners near the project area in advance of when construction will occur, provide constructon updates, and aim to
complete our work with as little disruption as possible.
As we move forward with these enhancements, Pepco will maintain a special area on our website for updates and
additional information. These updates are available by following our Twitter handle @PepcoConnect and by visiting
www.pepco.com/reliabilityprojects. For further questions, please contact Chris Taylor, Pepco Public Affairs Manager DC
Region, crtaylor@pepco.com.
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