Overview
Winnett is an operational substation owned by Fergus Electric Cooperative in Montana, USA. It operates at 69 kV, serving rural electrical infrastructure.
Winnett is a substation located in Montana, United States, owned and operated by Fergus Electric Cooperative. The facility is operational and plays a role in the regional electrical grid, primarily serving rural areas. With a voltage level of 69 kV, it is classified as a medium-voltage substation, typical for distribution and sub-transmission networks in cooperative-owned systems. As part of the US electrical infrastructure, this substation operates under the regulatory framework of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Fergus Electric Cooperative, as a member of the Touchstone Energy cooperative network, adheres to reliability standards and grid stability requirements. The 69 kV voltage level is common for rural cooperatives, facilitating power distribution from higher-voltage transmission lines to local communities. The substation's environmental context includes its location in a sparsely populated area of Montana, where electrical infrastructure is critical for supporting agricultural and residential needs. The facility's operational status ensures continued service to the local grid, contributing to energy reliability in a region with challenging weather conditions. Its role in the cooperative's network underscores the importance of distributed substations in maintaining grid resilience.
Environmental context
Located in rural Montana, the Winnett substation operates in a region with extreme seasonal temperatures and low population density. The 69 kV voltage level is typical for distribution networks serving agricultural and residential loads. The facility's location away from major urban centers reduces exposure to certain grid stress factors but requires robust design to withstand winter storms and wildfire risks.
Frequently asked questions
The Winnett substation is located in Montana, United States, near the town of Winnett. Its coordinates are approximately 46.9981° N, -108.3567° W.
The Winnett substation operates at a voltage of 69 kV (69,000 volts), which is a common voltage for sub-transmission and distribution networks in rural areas.
The Winnett substation is owned and operated by Fergus Electric Cooperative, a member-owned utility serving parts of Montana.
Substations in the US must comply with NERC reliability standards for grid stability and FERC regulations for interstate electricity transmission. Additionally, equipment often follows IEEE and ANSI standards.
A 69 kV substation typically steps down voltage from higher transmission lines (e.g., 115 kV or 230 kV) for distribution to local areas, or steps up voltage from generation sources. It serves as a critical node for power flow control and reliability.