Overview
Centerville Switching Station is an operational substation in Tennessee, USA, owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with a voltage of 161 kV, serving the regional electrical grid.
Centerville Switching Station is a 161 kV substation located in Tennessee, United States. Owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), it plays a role in the transmission and distribution of electricity within the TVA service area, which covers parts of seven southeastern states. The facility is classified as a switching station, primarily used for routing power and maintaining grid reliability. Operating at 161 kV, this substation is part of TVA's high-voltage transmission network. TVA is a federally owned corporation subject to FERC regulation and adheres to NERC reliability standards to ensure grid stability. In the US, substations of this voltage class are common for regional power distribution and interconnection. The environmental context of Centerville Switching Station includes its rural location in Hickman County, which minimizes direct impact on densely populated areas. However, the substation's operation contributes to the overall grid resilience for surrounding communities. TVA's commitment to environmental stewardship includes managing vegetation and wildlife habitats around its facilities, aligning with broader industry practices for sustainable infrastructure.
Environmental context
Located in a rural area of Tennessee, the Centerville Switching Station operates within a landscape of forests and farmland. The substation's 161 kV infrastructure is typical for regional transmission, with minimal direct environmental footprint beyond land use for the facility. TVA implements standard practices for stormwater management and oil containment to prevent contamination. The surrounding ecosystem benefits from TVA's integrated resource management, which balances grid reliability with environmental protection.
Frequently asked questions
Centerville Switching Station is located in Tennessee, United States, near the city of Centerville in Hickman County. Its coordinates are approximately 35.7712 N, -87.4801 W.
Centerville Switching Station operates at 161 kV (161,000 volts), which is a common voltage for high-voltage transmission substations in the United States.
The substation is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federally owned electric utility company serving the Tennessee Valley region.
In the United States, substations are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for wholesale electricity markets and must comply with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards to ensure grid stability.
A switching station is a type of substation that routes electrical power between different transmission lines without transforming voltage. It enhances grid flexibility and reliability by allowing operators to reconfigure power flows.