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Utility company says projects are in response to growing regional demand for power.
PPL Electric Utilities has announced it plans to build three electrical substations and add a power line in Luzerne County that will extend into the Poconos to supply enough power to meet growing regional demand.
PPL spokesman Paul Wirth noted a growing need for electricity in the area has been a decades-long trend.
“More houses are being built and existing houses are using more electricity” due to the increasing presence of electronic devices in homes, he said, adding that electricity usage has gone up 15 percent since 1990.
PPL has not decided yet on an exact location for the substations or a specific route for the power line, although the company expects the substations will be built near Stoddartsville off Route 115 and near Gouldsboro and Paupak in the Poconos. PPL will be contacting property owners to purchase property for the substations.
According to the utility, the project will not only supply more electricity to more customers, but will also improve the reliability of electricity that residents receive, resulting in fewer blackouts and quicker restoration of service after a blackout.
The substations and power line will be phased into service between 2015 and 2017. The project also involves renovating existing electrical systems.
The project is only in its initial phase, so local government officials are unsure of what to make of it.
“I don’t want to make any comments until I get a little more information” from PPL, said Gary Zingaretti, Board of Supervisors chairman for Bear Creek Township.
“I don’t think it’ll affect (Plains) Township that much,” since the substations will all be located far outside the township, said Ronald Filippini, chairman on the Plains Township Board of Commissioners.
PPL has scheduled four public open houses throughout the project area to get public input on where the substations should be located.
Open houses set (all 5-8 p.m.)
Monday, March 7
: Western Wayne Middle School, 1970B Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel
Tuesday, March 8: Greene-Dreher Volunteer Fire Association, 460 Crestmont Drive, Newfoundland
Tuesday, March 15: Thornhurst Fire & Rescue, 125 River Road, Thornhurst
Wednesday, March 16: PPL East Mountain Business Center, 1190 East Mountain Drive, Plains Twp.