Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Piedmont EVC <br /> Page 3 6 <br /> "Central Orange County is growing in population. In fact, this area's annual growth rate <br /> continues to be significantly higher than the state's average. Because of this growth-6.5 <br /> percent annually—Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) must upgrade existing <br /> electrical facilities or add a new substation and transmission line in the area of Interstate 40 <br /> and Highway 86 to be able to meet our customers' future power needs," explains David <br /> Obenshain, Manager of Engineering. <br /> An economic analysis determined it would be more cost effective to build the substa- <br /> tion and transmission line now rather than postpone construction of new facilities and <br /> upgrade existing facilities. <br /> The substation location was based on where the greatest electric load is located. (Load <br /> center is defined as the area where an approximate equal amount of load is on all sides of <br /> the substation and where natural circuit feeders exist or can be developed.) <br /> The two areas with the most load which helped define the load center are north of New <br /> Hope Church Road on Highway 86 and the area around Arthur Minnis, Kimbro, Borland <br /> and Union Grove Church roads. <br /> Work is scheduled to begin on the line in early 1998, and should be completed by the <br /> end of next year, according to Piedmont EMC's spokesperson. <br />