When a municipal utility needed a substation built underground in a high property value neighborhood, Beta offered the design and engineering expertise for the challenge. We used gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) because its compact design meant it could fit on the small site footprint. We installed two 50MVA transformers in underground vaults, beneath what would become a neighborhood park.

Because of the area’s heavy traffic, we offloaded materials a few miles away and painstakingly coordinated equipment, lane closures, deliveries and construction—often at night—to minimize the project’s impact on the neighborhood. We also had to handle excavation challenges and take measures to prevent landslides due to winter rainfall that resulted in high water table levels.

This project was the first of its kind in the U.S., and we’re proud to have innovatively solved our customer’s problems—helping our customer meet growing energy demand while adapting to the neighborhood’s needs. For more information, see this fact sheet from the city of Anaheim, CA.