Final update - September 20, 2024 - CenterPoint Energy is currently working to prepare for the construction of a new electricity substation to provide safe, resilient, and reliable service to customers in the City of Seabrook and the surrounding areas. Benefits this substation would provide to customers are:
- Additional connection with other substations in the region thus improving grid resiliency,
- Additional capabilities that facilitate faster service restoration, and
- Shorter circuit lengths that will reduce the number of customers at risk of service interruptions caused by weather events, vegetation contact, wildlife, and vehicle collisions.
Energization of Substation
During the week of September 16, 2024, CenterPoint Energy and its contractors will begin the process of final energization of the substation and associated facilities installed for the project.
Any planned momentary or sustained outages needed to safely energize the new facilities will be communicated as much as possible to the customers affected, in advance.
We encourage all our customers to enroll in CenterPoint’s Power Alert Service® to receive outage details, estimated restoration time and community-wide restoration updates. Power Alert Service helps minimize the impact of a power outage by sending a free text, email or phone call notification when the power goes out.
Customers can add their spouse, children, caregivers, other family and friends to their Power Alert Service contact list. Customers can add up to five texts, five emails and five phone numbers. For more information and to sign up, go to CenterPointEnergy.com/PowerAlertService.
Safety is our top priority. CenterPoint understands any outages may be inconvenient to people living and working in the area. We appreciate your patience as we work to complete the project as safely as possible in a reasonable time frame.
Substation Design
Substations built by CenterPoint Energy are low profile design and are based on industry standards required by the National Electrical Safety Code (“NESC”) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (“IEEE”) for inland and coastal areas.
CenterPoint Energy builds new or upgraded substation facilities for flood conditions utilizing 100-year and 500-year FEMA, county, and city flood plain maps, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Category 5 storm surge maps, historically experienced flood conditions, and contracted flood and storm surge studies.
A communication tower has been constructed within the substation fence line. The communication tower is 60 ft tall, and no lighting has been attached.
CenterPoint Energy is committed to safe, efficient and reliable energy delivery and providing highly valued customer services, while conducting its operations in an environmentally responsible manner.
Low pressure, sodium floodlights are being used that have a soft yellow light similar to some streetlights. Mounting heights are 10 feet above ground and luminaires have been aimed away from the street.
CenterPoint Energy substation transformers are designed for sound levels 6dB below the National Electrical Manufacturers Association TR-1 industry standard. The site is also oriented so the transformers are located as far east on the property as possible. Additionally, the transformer distance from the property line and the 14-foot decorative wall will also mitigate substation noise.
Decorative Wall
To minimize the visual impact to nearby residential customers, CenterPoint Energy has completed a 14-foot decorative concrete wall on the Loganberry Circle side of the Seabrook substation. As a result of the low-profile design and construction of the decorative wall, minimal portions of the substation equipment will be visible above the decorative wall.
CenterPoint Energy has installed the Ashlar style wall, an enhancement from the standard wirewall fencing used for substation construction. The wall will remain unstained and unpainted for perpetual maintainability. CenterPoint Energy designs structures to meet National Electric Safety Code requirements, which is the industry standard for wind design in coastal and inland areas. The decorative wall has been designed to withstand 150 mph wind loading.
Landscaping
CenterPoint Energy will make a good faith effort to revegetate where reasonably practical. Quantity and location of trees and/or shrubs will be determined pending final design and construction. Vegetation irrigation will not be installed, and CenterPoint Energy is not responsible for maintaining vegetation outside of CenterPoint Energy property.
CenterPoint Energy inspects substation properties on a quarterly basis. Inspectors assigned this task determine the timing and occurrence to mow the overall site including any detention systems. CenterPoint Energy will comply with all storm water quality permits required by the City of Seabrook.
Detention Pond
CenterPoint Energy is currently completing the detention pond. This detention pond complies with the City of Seabrook’s design standards manual, Section 5.7 Stormwater Detention – Wet Ponds, including the installation of an aeration system. The aeration unit will be maintained by CenterPoint Energy, or another company contracted to do so.
Overhead Distribution
As part of CenterPoint's ongoing commitment to providing safe and reliable energy to the Seabrook community, the company upgraded the overhead distribution infrastructure in this community for increased resiliency.
