AES-Eletropaulo puts a new substation in operation
Gazeta Mercantil- 04/03/2008
54 years ago, the city of São Paulo had a little more than 2.6 million inhabitants and an increasing demand for electric energy. At that time some substations started operating and continue in activity. Times have certainly changed. São Paulo, which has 10 million inhabitants, gained some reinforcement for the electric energy distribution from AES Eletropaulo yesterday. The company, which foresees investments of R$ 550 million (US$ 314,3 million) in new technologies this year, replaced one substation installed more than half a century ago. The new Transforming Station of Distribution occupies an area of 1.5 thousand square meters - 8 thousand meters less than the previous one - an has an installed capacity of 120 megavolt ampére (MVA) and it is the first one of the eight that will be installed in the city up to 2012. The new substation cost Eletropaulo R$ 38.3 million (US$ 21.9 million) and is installed in a noble area, with more than 160 thousand inhabitantes distributed in five districts and where the square meter is one of the most expensive ones of the capital of the state. "The operation of this substation fits in our investments and solves the problem that the region is facing due to its fast development", says AES Eletropaulo's president, Britaldo Soares. Built in a record period of 18 months and using technology developed by a consortium of companies, the substation will lower the level of tension of the electric energy that gets to the transmission lines. With this, the distribution will be made in the ideal voltage to feed industries, commerce, and residences. To start its operations, Eletropaulo developed the works of transposition of the lines of sub-transmission of electric energy that fed the old unit for two years. The Itaim substation is operated by a digital and automatized system, which makes possible its communication with the company's operations center. To make its operation possible, AES Eletropaulo developed a study of the region. Currently, the company has 148 substations in its operation area and foresees the beginning of operations of another two units until the end of this year. With this, 75% of the investments will be destined to consumer services, with the recovery of losses, maintenance, and expansion.