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Idylwood at Shreve Road
Overview
The Idylwood Substation Rearrangement Project will rebuild the existing Idylwood Substation at Shreve Road, originally built in the late 1950s, in order to support growing capacity and projected reliability concerns in the region. The proposed enhancements will provide seamless, reliable power to Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax, and will support the energy needs of the Metrorail.
The existing Idylwood Substation at Shreve Road is situated on a 7.15 acre lot near the corner of Shreve Road and Holly Manor Drive. Due to the limited space at the site, Dominion Energy is investing in Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) technology at the site. By utilizing GIS technology, Dominion Energy will be able to largely utilize our existing footprint while modernizing the facility to meet area demand.
Our crews are committed to working safely and courteously in your neighborhood and will utilize signage and flagmen during our work hours. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve reliability and service in your area.
This work is separate from activities associated with the proposed expansion project, which is still under review for approval with Fairfax County.
In February and May 2015, respectively, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and the County Planning Commission approved Dominion Energy’s application to remodel its existing Idylwood Substation at Shreve Road.
After several meetings within the community, Dominion Energy’s project team has been able to incorporate a number of modifications based on community input. The following highlights many of those changes:
- Dominion Energy has achieved the full 35-foot screening/buffer adjacent to Shreve Road
- An area of existing trees along Shreve Road has been maintained
- Dominion Energy has achieved the full 50-foot screening/buffer adjacent to nearly all homes along Holly Manor Drive (buffer areas towards the front of subdivision at the intersection with Shreve Road could not achieve full 50-feet due to substation operation constraints)
- All backbones have lowered to 75-feet from 95-feet in height
- Taller proposed vegetation has been added in the corner of the site near the Holly Crest entrance; this area is not underneath overhead transmission lines and thus can feature some taller trees
- More robust landscaping areas have been added adjacent to the southern substation property line
- The back lower yard future expansion has been removed from the application
Benefits
- Comply with mandatory NERC Reliability Standards
Documents
Photos and diagrams provide representational views of proposed electric transmission facilities. These illustrations do not necessarily depict exact structure design or physical placement. All projects are subject to change and to final engineering.
Photo Simulations
- Viewpoint 1 - after 2 years
- Viewpoint 1 - after 10 years
- Viewpoint 2 - after 2 years
- Viewpoint 6 - existing
- Viewpoint 6 - after 2 years
- Viewpoint 6 - after 10 years
- Viewpoint 7 - existing
- Viewpoint 7 - after 2 years
- Viewpoint 7 - after 10 years
- Viewpoint 8 - existing
- Viewpoint 8 - after 2 years
- Viewpoint 8 - after 10 years
Other Documents
- Site east elevation view (existing)
- Site east elevation view (intermediate)
- Site east elevation view (planned)
- Landscaping - screening yard, side elevation
- Landscaping - summer to fall plantings
- Landscaping - plant options
- Sightline 1
- Sightline 2
- Sightline 3
- Floodplain study
- Project update presentation
FAQs
For more questions and concerns, please call Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at 888-291-0190 or email at powerline@dominionenergy.com.
GIS technology is specialized equipment used in areas where expansion of existing equipment is limited. By utilizing GIS technology, Dominion Energy will be able to largely utilize our existing footprint while modernizing the facility to meet area demand.
Due to the interconnected nature of the electric transmission grid, all power users in the area rely on Dominion Energy's transmission infrastructure to deliver reliable power. The enhanced substation will provide increased operational flexibility and greater system reliability. As an area resident, this means fewer outages, and shorter durations should an outage occur.
In its review, the SCC must confirm the need and approve a project that resolves the need and reasonably minimizes adverse impact on the scenic assets, historic districts and environment of the area concerned, with formal involvement of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, SCC Staff and other interested parties. There will be opportunities for the public to participate during the SCC review process, which may last six months or more.
Yes. At Dominion Energy we strive to be good neighbors. The company, at its expense, will repair any private roads damaged by Dominion Energy or its contractors during construction or during future maintenance. In addition, we will reimburse property owners for damage, and repair or replace fences or gates if we damage them.
Maps
Diagrams provide representational views of proposed electric transmission facilities. These illustrations do not necessarily depict exact structure design or physical placement. All projects are subject to change and to final engineering.
Legal
SCC Application
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has regulatory authority over all energy providers in Virginia. Among other responsibilities, the SCC validates the need for a proposed line and approves the route and structures. In reviewing a proposed project, the SCC must consider whether potential impacts on scenic assets, historic districts and the environment have been reasonably minimized. On January 12, 2017, Dominion Energy filed its application with the SCC.
The SCC issued its Final Order approving the project on September 8, 2017. Documents related to the case are available to the public on the SCC Docket of the SCC website or search by Case No. PUR-2017-00002 in the "Search Cases" section. In addition, interested parties may visit the SCC Case Comments Page where individual mailboxes are available for each case accepting public comments.
SCC Timeline
- December 16, 2024 – December 2024 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- September 16, 2024 – September 2024 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- June 17, 2024 – June 2024 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- March 15, 2024 – March 2024 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- December 15, 2023 – December 2023 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- September 15, 2023 – September 2023 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- June 15, 2023 – June 2023 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- March 15, 2023 – March 2023 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- December 15, 2022 – December 2022 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- September 15, 2022 – September 2022 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- June 15, 2022 – June 2022 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- March 15, 2022 – March 2022 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- December 15, 2021 – December 2021 quarterly update due to the SCC.
- September 9, 2021 – The SCC issued an order granting the Company’s Motion for Extension of the In-Service date. The Rebuild Project shall be constructed and in-service by Dec. 31, 2026. The Order also directs the Company to provide quarterly status reports as follows:
- The Company shall submit quarterly construction status updates regarding the Rebuild Project to the Director of the Commission's Division of Public Utility Regulation until the Rebuild Project is completed or until further order of the Commission.
- The Company shall post each quarterly construction status update on the Company's website: www.DominionEnergy.com/shreve.
- The Company shall post its Construction Timeline on the website noted in Ordering Paragraph (4). The Company shall update this Construction Timeline as needed to maintain accuracy.
- April 30, 2021 – SCC issues Hearing Examiner’s Ruling.
- September 8, 2017 – SCC issues Final Order.
- August 9, 2017 – SCC issues Hearing Examiner's Report.
- July 5, 2017 – Staff Report
- July 19, 2017 – Special Exception Amendment hearing - Fairfax County Government Center
- June 27, 2017 – Evidentiary hearing, 10:00am., SCC
- June 13, 2017 – Company rebuttal testimony and exhibit
- June 2, 2017 – Public Comments Due
- May 10, 2017 – Hearing will convene as scheduled to receive public witness' testimony
- April 21, 2017 – Public Comments
- April 3, 2017 – Local public hearing will convene as scheduled in Falls Church, VA
- March 15, 2017 – Notices of Participation
- March 31, 2017 – Proof of Notice
- March 1, 2017 – Public and Gov't Official Notice
- January/February 2017 – Rough Grading Plan submitted to Fairfax County
- January 12, 2017 – Dominion Energy files application with the VA State Corporation Commission
Additional Legal Documents
Meetings
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Telephonic meeting
Telephonic SCC hearing
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Virtual community meeting
Discussing project delays and most recent construction schedule
Watch January 2021 meeting recording
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Informational meeting
Discussing 24-hour transformer work and overall project status
Timeline
2024
March 2024
Planned outages and weather delays impact project schedule. Transmission work is still on schedule to be completed by December 31, 2026, as ordered by the SCC. Erecting the security wall and installing landscaping may extend into 2027.
2021
June 10, 2021
Telephone hearing for public witnesses on the new construction schedule begins at 7 p.m.
May 14, 2021
Mailing letters to property owners within .25 miles of the substation, to inform them of the Hearing Examiner ruling and to provide a copy of the Supplemental Information Report
April 30, 2021
Hearing Examiner issues a ruling
February 11, 2021
Submit new construction schedule for the project in a Motion for a New In-Service Date, filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)
2020
December 2020
Receive 38 kV GIS building permit, the last permit needed to finalize the construction schedule
August 2020
Final design renderings for the future substation wall are available
View wall renderings
March 17, 2020
Community Informational Meeting CANCELLED due to coronavirus
2019
April 11, 2019
Informational meeting to discuss upcoming transformer work and overall project status
2017
September 12, 2017
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors votes unanimously to approve Special Exception Amendment
September 8, 2017
SCC issues final order
2016
December 2016
Special Exception Amendment submitted to Fairfax County
Spring 2016
Community outreach and notification of transmission construction start
2014
Fall 2014
Submit application for local approval to construct
2013
Summer 2013
Public outreach, letters, website, community meeting
June 2013
Outreach to state and local officials
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 may be high at times; permits are in place.
Construction Times
Adhering to the allowable work hours of 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Primarily performed Monday–Friday.
Neighborhood
Access to surrounding neighborhoods may be impacted.
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