Substation Program

Substation_program_planning to power_clr (002)

Planning to Power - all the way to 2075

Substations are an integral part of Chelan PUD’s electrical power system, bringing together generation, transmission, and distribution. In alignment with the long-range vision of Imagine 2075, the Substation Program provides a strategic framework for proactively improving and expanding substation infrastructure. The PUD's Substation Program ensures we can continue delivering safe, reliable power to meet the evolving needs of Chelan County. 

Overburdened subs - WEB wide

1 POWER GENERATION: Power travels via transmission lines to substations. We currently have 34 substations, and each one can serve up to 1,500 homes.



2 TRANSMISSION: Electricity generated at the hydroelectric projects moves along high-voltage transmission lines to a transmission switchyard, where the voltage is reduced by transformers. Then, electricity travels along smaller transmission lines to distribution substations throughout Chelan County.


3 DISTRIBUTION: Power travels along distribution lines, is converted to a standard voltage through transformers and serves the customer’s residence or business.

Burdened Transformer

The Foundation of our Method

When an existing substation is reaching 80% of its capacity, that is Chelan PUD's sign to begin looking into the need for a new substation. This '80/20 Model' launches the process for identifying a location for a new substation and the associated transmission and distribution lines that deliver reliable electricity to our customers. 

Let Us Share More!

Learn more about the three Phases of our Substation Program; understand which projects are currently in development, and how the PUD plans for growth. You can also explore the Electrical System which is foundational to the PUD's ability to deliver reliable and resilient power for Chelan County.