By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green is eyeing the extension of its electric system to the north of the city.
In an effort to improve reliability for customers, the city Board of Public Utilities on Monday was asked to consider a second distribution circuit to the north.
Assistant Utilities Director Jim Odneal explained the city currently has a single radial circuit winding north from the Bishop Road substation. The existing circuit was constructed in 1996/1997 and runs north along Ohio 25, east on Simonds Road, north on Dunbridge Road, west on Devils Hole Road, and north on Mercer Road to Ohio 582.
This line serves Principle Business Enterprise, one of the city’s largest electric customers.
The single circuit causes a problem, Odneal said. Whenever there is a fault on this radial feed, power cannot be restored to customers until the fault is repaired because there is no way to isolate the fault and backfeed the customers.
Principle Business Enterprise officials have expressed reliability concerns of this radial circuit in the past, and they may be interested in further developing property they own around their plant into a business park, Odneal said.
Also, the property on Route 582 near Interstate 75 is regarded as a highly desirable area for economic development and may provide the opportunity for adding customers in the future, Odneal added.
Depending on the route selected for the second circuit, a backup to Abbott Laboratories on Nims Road from a different substation may increase reliability at that plant as well.
Odneal suggested a possible option of building a new distribution circuit from the city’s Dunbridge Road substation. That circuit could run the north along Dunbridge Road or Carter Road, and branch off at Nims Road to serve as a backup feed to Abbott. The circuit could then continue north to serve as a backup feed to Principle Business Enterprise, and ultimately tie-in with the existing circuit on Route 582. This would create a looped circuit.
The new circuit would likely require obtaining easements from property owners along the route. The design of the new route would consider the economics of easements, construction and maintenance costs, and potential customer connections along the route.
Existing First Energy customers along the new route may consider switching over the Bowling Green’s electric system, according to Odneal.
Odneal said the city may want to consider waiving or changing its “Out of Corporation Connection Fee” in an effort to attract potential customers along the route. “Obviously, more customers would generate revenue to help pay for the circuit over time,” he said.
The Board of Public Utilities approved the hiring of an engineering firm to evaluate route options and design the circuit. After the design is complete, the city will need to negotiate any easements and advertise for construction bids. The city’s electric capital reserve fund already has $500,000 budgeted for this work.
