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Crystal
Overview
We are making improvements to the Crystal Substation to help maintain reliable service in the area.
This project includes an expansion and remodel of the Crystal Substation located at the intersection of South Hayes Street and South Fern Street in Arlington County, Virginia. This work is necessary to address aging equipment and increase reliability for the anticipated load growth in the National Landing area.
Benefits
- Complies with mandatory standards to ensure safety, reliability and to meet future needs
- Replaces aging infrastructure
FAQs
For more questions and concerns, please call M–F 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at 888-291-0190 or email at powerline@dominionenergy.com.
A substation is a facility that changes voltage from high to low or from low to high, among other important functions. When electric transmission lines enter a substation, the voltage is lowered using transformers. The lower voltage electricity is delivered to customers using electric distribution lines.
There are three primary drivers for this project.
- Aging Infrastructure – Much of the equipment inside the substation is approaching the end of its service life and needs to be replaced to help maintain electric reliability.
- Load growth – Additional infrastructure is required in order to continue serving the present load and meet the network reliability criteria and prepare for anticipated load growth in the area.
- Safety Regulations – The substation needs physical improvements for safety and reliability of service. An increase in space will allow us to maneuver inside the substation to access our equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
We submitted an application to rezone to C-O-2.5 Zoning District so the project can satisfy the Zoning Ordinance's use and lot size requirements for substations.
Part of this project involves building new equipment that will automatically reroute power from another source if equipment inside the substation causes an outage. This will improve reliability in your area. However, outages can still occur if any of the lines outside of the substation that serve your home are damaged.
When we replace the existing equipment in the substation, we will be replacing it with equipment that can support future load growth in the area. Not only will the expansion of the facility allow us to make room for this new equipment and growth, it will improve safety measures inside the substation by allowing us more room to access the equipment.
Because of the location of electric transmission and distribution lines entering the substation, we need to perform upgrades at the existing site. Expanding at another site would require additional work that would impact the community, such as building new power lines, equipment and an entirely new building.
This project will replace existing equipment inside the substation. We will not be adding any new electric transmission or distribution lines. EMF levels will not increase as a result of this project.
Customers sometimes contact us with concerns about possible health hazards associated with EMFs. Dominion Energy, like other utilities, relies on information from federal, state and international health agencies, which review EMF research and monitor this issue in order to help evaluate potential risks and respond to concerns. Such agencies have not concluded that exposure to EMFs at levels found in our communities poses a health hazard.
Part of the visual improvements we plan to make at the substation includes landscaping and green space the community can enjoy.
For more information, contact our team by sending an email to powerline@dominionenergy.com or by calling 888-291-0190.
Legal
- Phase 1 Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Plan (added July 2021)
- Phase 2 Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Plan (added July 2021)
- Expansion Location Options (added Nov. 10, 2020)
- Updates to Permit Application Based on Community Feedback (added Oct. 27, 2020)
- Updated Landscape Plan (added Oct. 30, 2020)
- Original Landscape Plan
- Updated Landscape Perspectives (added Oct. 30, 2020)
- Original Landscape Perspectives
- Use Permit Application Site Plan
- Basement Equipment Plan
- Switch Gear Floor Equipment Plan
- Second Floor Equipment Plan
- Roof Equipment Plan
- Concept Substation Elevations
- East Concept Substation Elevation
- North Concept Substation Elevation
- Hayes St. Concept Substation Elevation
- West Concept Substation Elevation
Meetings
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Community meeting
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Project update
Timeline
2025
End of 2025
Construction complete
2021
September 2021
Phase 1 construction complete, phase 2 begins
July 2021
Final permits and approvals received, phase 1 construction begins
What to expect during phase 1
2020
November 14, 2020
County board meeting
September 8, 2020
Special use permit application submission for November county board hearing
August–September 2020
Solicitation of written feedback from the community through Dominion Energy and Arlington County project websites
July 6, 2020
Rezoning application submission
July–September 2020
Outreach
Construction-Related Impact
Service Interruption
Your electric service is not expected to be impacted by this project.
Traffic
There may be some traffic delays.
Noise
Noise levels will be moderate; permits are in place.
Neighborhood
Access to surrounding neighborhoods may be impacted.
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