NORTHFIELD — Eversource is continuing the deliveries of large pieces of electrical equipment to its Northfield substation, which, once installed, are designed to improve system reliability and improve the flow of power in western Massachusetts.
The company is delivering a massive electrical transformer, which will be transported in three parts to the pumped storage facility on Northfield Mountain on Millers Falls Road. The device, according to an Eversource press release, is used to adjust voltage downward from that of a transmission line to a local distribution line.
“Once this new transformer is in service, our customers will have a stronger, more resilient and secure power grid,” said Craig Hallstrom, president of Regional Electric Operations for Eversource, in the release.
The deliveries are scheduled between Wednesday and Aug. 15, weather permitting. According to the release, each delivery will occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to minimize impacts on traffic.
The significant height and weight of each of the parts — more than 15 feet and nearly 300,000 pounds — requires a special truck for delivery which is more than 85 feet long, the release stated. To ensure the safety of motorists, the Massachusetts State Police will escort each delivery.
The convoy will move at a maximum speed of about 10 miles per hour from the equipment’s current location by the railroad tracks on Upper Farms Road and south on Millers Falls Road to the substation. Each piece of equipment will travel a total of five miles and each delivery should take two to three hours to complete, the release stated.
According to Frank Poirot, a spokesman for Eversource, once the equipment is delivered, it will likely take approximately two months for it to be connected, tested and effective.