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.
Factors that were considered as part of site selection included the site being adjacent to existing power lines required, size and layout of alternative tracts, reduction of impact on wetlands, mitigating environmental concerns, subsurface obstructions at alternative sites, and reduction of monetary impact to ratepayers.
You can expect to see CenterPoint Energy teams and contract crews working in the area six days a week, Monday to Saturday, during daylight hours. If necessary, work might be conducted on Sundays. Crews will be accessing the work area via CenterPoint Energy easements. Please note that all CenterPoint Energy employees and contractors carry identification badges. If the badges are not visible, they will show them upon request.
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.
A communication tower will be constructed within the substation fence line. The communication tower will be 60 ft tall, and no lighting will be attached. There will be no interference with TV, radio, or satellite feeds.
CenterPoint Energy commissioned an environmental consultant to conduct an environmental study of the site. The consultant’s assessment addressed ecological and cultural concerns and indicated that no coordination with Texas Historical Commission or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was needed for this work.
CenterPoint Energy maintains a company-wide oil spill response program and implements site-specific spill prevention and control, and countermeasure plans for substations.
Low pressure, sodium floodlights, will be used that have a soft yellow light similar to some streetlights. Mounting heights will be 10 feet above ground and luminaires will be 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.
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.
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 Updates - Update as of May 15, 2024
As part of CenterPoint's ongoing commitment to providing safe and reliable energy to the Seabrook community, we are upgrading the overhead distribution infrastructure in this community for increased resiliency. Construction began on Monday, April 29 and is planned to continue through the end of May. This timeline can vary depending upon material availability, weather and other factors that impact similar construction projects.
CenterPoint understands construction activities 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.
Safety is our top priority. CenterPoint Energy understands that construction activity can be inconvenient to people living and working in the area. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to complete the project as safely as possible in a reasonable time frame.
