Overview
Berea Substation is an operational electrical substation in Texas, United States, owned and operated by Houston County Electric Cooperative. It operates at a voltage of 138 kV, serving the local grid.
Berea Substation is an operational electrical substation located in Texas, United States. Owned and operated by Houston County Electric Cooperative, this facility plays a key role in the regional electrical infrastructure. The substation operates at a voltage of 138 kV, which is typical for sub-transmission and distribution-level assets in rural cooperative networks. As a substation under the jurisdiction of the United States, it operates within the regulatory framework established by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). These standards ensure grid reliability and security. The 138 kV voltage level indicates this substation likely serves as a distribution hub for local communities and industrial customers, stepping down power from higher transmission voltages. The substation is located in a rural area of Texas, where electric cooperatives like Houston County Electric Cooperative are common. These cooperatives provide reliable electricity to underserved areas, and substations like Berea are critical for maintaining voltage stability and power quality. The facility's operational status ensures continued service to the surrounding region, supporting residential, agricultural, and small commercial loads.
Environmental context
Located in rural Texas, Berea Substation operates in an area with a mix of agricultural and forested land. The substation's 138 kV voltage level is typical for distribution networks that serve dispersed populations. Environmental considerations for such facilities include vegetation management to prevent outages and wildlife protection measures. The site's location away from dense urban areas reduces potential electromagnetic field exposure concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Berea Substation is located in Texas, United States, at coordinates 31.358316, -95.318564. It is owned and operated by Houston County Electric Cooperative.
Berea Substation operates at a voltage of 138 kV, which is a common sub-transmission voltage level used for distributing electricity from transmission lines to local distribution networks.
Berea Substation is owned and operated by Houston County Electric Cooperative, a member-owned utility serving rural areas in Texas.
Substations in the United States must comply with NERC reliability standards for grid stability and FERC regulations for transmission-level assets. These standards cover equipment maintenance, cybersecurity, and operational protocols.
A 138 kV substation typically serves as a distribution hub, stepping down higher transmission voltages (e.g., 230 kV or 345 kV) to lower distribution voltages (e.g., 34.5 kV or 12.47 kV) for delivery to end-users. It also provides switching and protection functions to maintain grid reliability.