Electric

Tour the Electric Distribution SystemPower Grid of Jamestown

Producing electricity for the BPU franchise territory is only half the story. In order for our customers to utilize this resource it must be distributed. View the Electric Distribution Photo Gallery to see images of the electric system.

To understand the scope of the electric distribution system, consider the following:

  • The BPU has nine neighborhood substations located strategically throughout its franchise territory.
  • There are 21,635 meters to measure the power sold to consumers.
  • Power is distributed using 3,083 neighborhood and customer transformers. 2722 overhead (OH) and 361 pad-mount (PM).
  • There are 811.93 miles of overhead wire and 78.86 miles of underground cable.
  • There are also 19.64 miles of overhead wire and 39.43 miles of underground cable delivering electricity for street lighting.
  • The overhead wire is supported by approximately 11,492 poles.

Samuel A. Carlson Electric Generating Station

The Board of Public Utilities' Samuel A. Carlson Electric Generating Station is capable of generating 40 to 58 megawatts electricity utilizing the gas turbine. The Dow Street Intertie connects the station via three underground tie lines or two overhead lines to the New York power grid over National Grid power lines. The Jamestown system is entitled to receive 72 megawatts of hydropower from the power station at Niagara Falls. When the Carlson Generating Station is producing excess power to sell on the grid, the power travels from the plant to Dow Street and out to the grid over the same lines.