Co-op, city officials and other dignitaries cut the ribbon for LCEC’s new substation, which opened for operation last week in Cape Coral. PROVIDED

A brand new Lee County Electric Cooperative substation opened for operation last week in Cape Coral, which officials say will meet the increasing energy demands of a rapidly-growing city.

State and local elected officials, project partners, local business owners, and community members gathered to commemorate the milestone at a special ribbon cutting event held last Friday. The ceremony featured remarks by LCEC CEO Denise Vidal and Chamber of Cape Coral President, Donna Germain. LCEC officials said the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the energy needs of the community was the focus and project details were shared.

“The Kismet substation, like other LCEC grid-hardening projects, is built with state-of-the-art technology and robust planning and design to serve as part of the resilient LCEC electric grid,” Vidal said.

Officials stated that the infrastructure “aims to alleviate pressure on surrounding facilities, which could eventually have been strained by the increased energy load stemming from new homes and businesses in the region.” The new Kismet substation is part of the LCEC long-term system plan, and that addressing the need for infrastructure and ensuring facilities are in place before the need becomes urgent.

“As the community grows, the demand for energy also grows,” said LCEC spokesperson Karen Ryan. “Eventually, existing electric facilities would feel the strain. LCEC utilizes growth and energy demand forecasts to build facilities that allow for additional capacity and maintain electric system reliability. For nearly 85 years, our goal has been to have the infrastructure ready and reliable when it is needed for homes and businesses in the region.”

Planning for the facility began in 2021, with route selection, permitting, and material procurement having taken place in 2022. Ground broke in 2023, and the substation will serve roughly 10,000 homes.

Ryan said the addition of this substation will allow for an alternate source of power if an outage occurs or when maintenance is performed at another substation in the region. It provides a redundant source of power.

She added, “It also reduces the strain on existing substations in the region as a result of growth and allows for more growth. Fiber was also installed along the transmission line. This enhances the ability to monitor and manage the electric system to ensure reliable power for members.”

As for future plans for LCEC in Cape Coral pertaining to bolstering service for its customers, Ryan said, “LCEC works year-round to maintain and upgrade the electric grid for increased resiliency. A consistent inspection process and vegetation management also helps to harden the system. A new service center is slated for the long-term which will help for response and efficiency. On-going load forecasting helps to identify areas for increased growth and where future infrastructure will be needed so that construction can be completed before the need is critical.”

As for the impact of this new facility when it comes to strong storms or even hurricanes, Ryan said that fortunately, LCEC only sustained severe impacts to two substations after Hurricane Ian (Sanibel and Pine Island) due to storm surge.

“Our ongoing analysis, inspection, and maintenance helps with infrastructure resilience and reduce the amount of time customers are without power,” she said. “Building facilities, such as the new Kismet substation, in anticipation of growth, helps to mitigate the impacts of a storm as much as possible. Crews can begin rebuilding the poles and wires that deliver the power to homes and neighborhoods quicker.”

Ryan added that, “This project, and many like it, could not be possible without the support of the local municipalities and county governments. For the Kismet Substation specifically, the city of Cape Coral was instrumental in approving the location, easements, transmission route, and permitting. We were able to focus on the construction and challenges related to supply chain disruptions and long lead times for materials.”