Westover area power customers once again are being served by their regular substation following repairs to the distribution transformer that was damaged two weeks ago.
The transformer passed all testing requirements, which on Friday allowed Danville Utilities crews to move the electric load off the mobile substation that had been providing power on an interim basis.
Mobile substations offer an emergency power supply when problems develop. Mobile units are self-contained containers that can be transported from one location to another and are equipped with the necessary high and medium voltage components of a full, conventional substation. However, they are more susceptible to service interruptions.
The mobile unit sent to Westover is one of two recently purchased by Danville Utilities at the cost of $2.6 million for rapid response when problems develop.
The full Westover substation was knocked out of service on the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 10, when a blown lightning arrester damaged a bushing in the transformer. Crews were able to temporarily restore service that evening to some customers by switching the load to other substations. The mobile substation was transported to Westover that evening, and installation completed on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to serve all customers.