Current Projects
Nelson Hydro has several large-scale capital and maintenance projects in the works at any given time. The current jobs in various stages of planning and implementation are discussed here.
Pole Test & Treat - City Zone 2012 - Completed 2012
The chosen contractor will be testing and treating Nelson Hydro poles within the City of Nelson that are greater than 15 years of age. This testing will help to identify structures that have reached their usable life and are in need of replacement. 1171 poles have been identified that meet the criteria for testing.
City Pole Test 2012 WEB [PDF - 484 KB]
Pole Test & Treat - Harrop Procter Zone 2013
The chosen contractor will be testing and treating Nelson Hydro poles within the Harrop Procter area that are greater than 15 years of age. This testing will help to identify structures that have reached their usable life and are in need of replacement. 549 poles have been identified that meet the criteria for testing.
Pole Test HP Overview 2013 [PDF - 179 KB]
Pole Re-enforcement City Zone (steel stubbing) 2013
The chosen contractor will be installing steel stubs at poles that have been identified as structures that are not yet in need of replacement, but are close to the end of their useful life. A steel stub is a structural I beam installed on the pole, below and above grade. The pole and stub are then banded together to become an integral unit. Typically, steel stubbing extends the useful life of a pole by approximately 8 - 10 years. 91 poles have been identified as candidates for stubbing in the City for 2013.
City Pole Stub 2013 Overview [PDF - 519 KB]
Pole Replacement 2013 City Zone
Poles identified during the 2012 test & treat program as being near the end of their useful life are planned to be replaced during 2013. Nelson Hydro plans to hire a line contractor to replace approximately 58 poles as part of the ongoing system maintenance program.
City Pole Replace 2013 Overview [PDF - 520 KB]
System Voltage Conversion - Uphill
As part of the Nelson Hydro plan to standardize system distribution voltages, a new 25 kV main feeder is being constructed along Josephine Street between Silica Street and Houston Street south lane. This new feeder will allow the conversion of the Uphill area from the existing 4 kV system to the 25 kV system, thereby further reducing the load on City substation.
Highway Crossing - 60L2
The existing 60 kV crossing of Highway 6 between Robertson Avenue in Rosemont and Observatory Street in Uphill is planned to be rebuilt in 2013. The existing crossing is 60 kV transmission voltage only, linking Rosemont Substation to Mill Street Substation. The new crossing will upgrade the existing 60 kV lines, with the addition of a 25 kV distribution voltage underbuild, creating a new distribution tie between the Uphill and Rosemont areas. This new 25 kV tie will provide more flexibilty in controlling the 25 kV distribution system and increase system reliability.
60L2 Crossing Overview [PDF - 294 KB] Nelson Hydro is currently in the process of rebuilding the Rosemont Substation on Wasson Street in Rosemont. This is a large portion of the System Voltage Conversion and will provide new 25 kV disttribution feeders for the Downtown/Waterfront, Uphill/Rosemont/Hwy 6, and Southshore areas.Rosemont Substation Rebuild
Ceramic Arrestor and Cut-Out Replacement - Ongoing
Nelson Hydro is currently in the process of replacing the ceramic arrestors and cut-outs with safer and more reliable polymer units. Ceramic devices have a history of failing while being worked on, causing a hazard to line personnel. This is a large scale and ongoing process that will likely extend over a long time period.
Transformer Testing 2012 - Completed 2012
According to Federal regulations, Nelson Hydro must sample all oil filled power transformers in the Nelson Hydro service area. A number of units were sampled in previous years, and for the 2012 group, it was decided to sample all of the remaining units that require sampling. The number of transformers to be completed this year is 1260. After this sample group has been completed, all of the transformers in the Nelson Hydro service area will be accounted for. This sampling will identify any units for PCB content and concentration. This information will be used when replacing and upgrading transformers in order to safely dispose of any units that contain unacceptable levels of PCB. Nelson Hydro now has a completed inventory of transformers, both in inventory and in use in the system.
Transformer Testing 2012 Overview [PDF - 852 KB]
Harrop Procter Feeder - Ongoing, planning in progress
Upgrades to the main feeder to service the Harrop Procter area are underway. The area is currently fed via a submarine cable crossing under the West Arm of Kootenay Lake at Fraser Narrows to Baxendale Road. The former feed was via an overhead crossing at the same location, which was retired when the submarine cable was installed. In order to have a backup system for the submarine cable, the overhead system will be upgraded in case of a failure of the submarine cable. Future plans to create a "loop feed" system for the area include two new submarine crossings, one at the Harrop Ferry, the second at the Balfour Ferry crossing the lake to the Procter townsite. While this future layout is being planned and budgeted, the upgraded overhead system will provide redundancy until the new crossings are in place.
Partial Re-Conductor Northshore Feeder - Ongoing
Plans are in progress for upgrading several areas of the conductors along the Northshore feeder system. When the upgrades are complete, it will allow Nelson Hydro to service the Northshore area from Coffee Creek substation to Six Mile substation at Six Mile. This will provide more reliability to the Northshore service area, and also make restoring power faster after an unplanned outage.
Hwy 3A east of Keiran Road - Ongoing, partially completed 2012, Completion planned for 2013
Plans are in place and Ministry of Transportation approval has been received to rebuild a section of the Northshore feeder system along Hwy 3A, east of Keiran Road near 8 Mile. The existing line is built in a location that cannot be easily maintained and is nearing the age of replacement. The new line will be constructed nearer to Hwy 3A, which will be easier to maintain, and accessible by line truck. Civil work will involve placing vertical culverts in which to place the new structures. This civil work is planned for 2012, with pole and line installation to follow in 2013. The civil work was completed in 2012, with culverts installed for all pole locations. These culverts provide for ease of installation of the new poles. Pole installation and line work is planned to be completed in 2013.
8 Mile Straight Rebuild 2011 November 28 [PDF - 195 KB]
System Voltage Conversion - Ongoing
As part of the Nelson Hydro plan to standardize system distribution voltages, two areas marked for conversion are
- South Sheppard - in Progress
- Ymir Hwy South of Waldorf School - planned for 2013
These areas are currently serviced at 2.4 kV system voltage and will be converted to 14.4 kV.
South Sheppard 2012 Overview [PDF - 181 KB]
4240 Blewett Road Line Rebuild
The distribution line at 4240 Blewett Road is planned to be rebuilt along the Blewett Road R/W. This rebuild will involve six new pole, to be built in joint use interest with Telus.
Hazard Tree Removal
As part of an ongoing goal to improve system reliability, Nelson Hydro will be entering into a Hazard Tree Removal program. The process will involve patrol of the transmission and distribution system, identify and field mark hazard trees for subsequent removal. This process will be completed through the Nelson Hydro service area, including the 60 kV supply systems.
Shaw Cable System Upgrades - Rosemont - Completed 2012
Shaw Cable Systems has requested to contact the Nelson Hydro system in various areas in order to better service their customers and upgrade their distribution system. As a part of those requests, some Nelson Hydro system upgrades are required, and are currently being planned and/or constructed. One area of these upgrades is from Victoria Street to Rosemont via Railway Avenue and McQuarrie Avenue. Other areas are currently being reviewed and planned.
Shaw Cable System Upgrades - Balfour
Shaw Cable Systems has requested to contact the Nelson Hydro system in the Balfour area of the Northshore on Upper Balfour Road between the Balfour Ferry Landing and Heuston Road at Hwy 3a. This project is required in order to better service their customers and upgrade their distribution system. As a part of this request, some Nelson Hydro system upgrades are required, and are currently being planned and/or constructed.
Baker Lanes Overhead Secondary Distribution - Ongoing
Completion of the downtown voltage conversion, Baker Lanes, is being planned for 2012. This will involve installing the new overhead secondary bus on the new poles, and transferring customers to the new system. Once that has been completed, removal of the old overhead 4 kV primary system and platform mounted transformers can be done. Telus and Shaw Cable can then install their new infrastructure on the new pole lines, which will eventually allow the removal of the old two pole structures. The completion of the project is planned for 2013.
Baker Lanes OH Secondary 2012 WEB [PDF - 2778 KB]
Joint Use Projects with Telus - Procter East Road Completed 2012, Bedford Road Ongoing
Nelson Hydro has a Joint Use Agreement with Telus, and as part of that agreement, the following projects apply,
- Bedford Road, Blewett. Telus is currently building a new pole line along Bedford Road in Blewett from Cazakoff Road to 3457 Bedford Road. This new line will become joint use when Telus has completed their portion of the project. Nelson Hydro can then replace the aging 12 kV feeder that currently travels through private land onto this new pole line along Bedford Road. This project will improve reliability to the Southshore and Taghum/Sproule Creek areas.
- Procter East Road, Procter area. At the request of Telus the existing distribution line along Procter East Road, east of Iwanik Road has been rebuilt. This project was completed by a licensed line contractor, hired by Nelson Hydro. See Project Drawing PE-8200 2012 [PDF - 590 KB]
Baker Lanes Underground Upgrade
This project involves converting the downtown core of Nelson from 4 kV primary overhead to 25 kV primary underground. The 4 kV voltage is being phased out of the Nelson Hydro system to allow City Substation to be eventually retired from service. In the new system, the downtown core will be serviced from the 25 kV feeder, 25F41, which runs along the CPR R/W north of Vernon Street. In the new system, all primary lines will be underground, supplying 25 kV to pad mounted transformers throughout the downtown core. These padmount transformers will supply secondary distribution voltages to new pole lines along the north side of Hume and Herridge lanes. The new poles will allow the removal of the existing two pole structures in need of replacement. The underground conduit system, new poles and padmount transformer bases installations are planned for 2010. The cable installation and voltage conversion will be completed in 2011.
For additional information and updates, view the Downtown Voltage Conversion Baker Lanes 2010 page.
Project Directional Map [PDF - 1.3 MB]
October 13 2010 Update [PDF - 27 KB]
September 13 2010 Update [PDF - 195 KB]
Baker Lanes Underground Upgrade [PDF - 683 KB]
Powerpoint Presentation July 26 2010 [PPT - 6 MB]
Layout Plans [PDF - 6.7 MB]
