LS Power Grid California Energizes Orchard Substation

(MENAFN- PR Newswire)

ST. LOUIS, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LS Power Grid California announced that it energized the Orchard Substation in Fresno County, California, on March 12. Also known as the Gates 500 kilovolt (kV) Dynamic Reactive Support Project, this new transmission infrastructure provides critical operational reliability for the California Independent System Operator's (CAISO) bulk electric power grid in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Orchard Substation features state-of-the-art, dynamic voltage control technology that provides approximately 800 megavolt-amperes reactive (MVAR) support to Pacific Gas & Electric's Gates 500 kV Substation and represents the largest static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) installation in North America.

"I commend our team for successfully placing the Orchard Substation in service, marking our first transmission asset in the state of California," stated Paul Thessen, President of LS Power Development. "This addition complements our growing transmission systems in operation or development across eight states, including five more transmission infrastructure projects in development now across California."

LS Power Grid California completed the Orchard Substation at a cost below CAISO's original estimate. Thessen stated, "Our Orchard Substation provides long-term cost savings for electricity consumers and enhances grid reliability and resiliency for CAISO's power grid."

Thessen added, "As developers, we compete to build transmission projects by offering binding cost protections and assuming project risks that help keep electricity costs lower for consumers, demonstrating the value of competition in transmission development."

In 2020, CAISO selected LS Power Grid California as the approved project sponsor to finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain the Gates 500 kV Dynamic Reactive Power Support Project. CAISO conducted a competitive selection process pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Order No. 1000 and selected LS Power Grid California's proposal from ten qualified proposals, all of which contained some form of cost containment to protect consumers.

About LS Power Grid California
LS Power Grid California, an LS Power and LS Power Grid affiliate, is an electric transmission utility that provides stability and reliability within the state of California.

LS Power and LS Power Grid are not the same company as LS Power Grid California and are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.

About LS Power
Founded in 1990, LS Power is a premier development, investment, and operating company focused on the North American power and energy infrastructure sector, with leading platforms across generation, transmission, and energy transition solutions. Since inception, LS Power has developed or acquired 50,000 MW of power generation, including utility-scale solar, wind, hydro, battery energy storage, and natural gas-fired facilities. For information, please visit lspower .

About LS Power Grid
Through LS Power's wholly owned transmission business, LS Power Grid has built 780+ miles of high-voltage transmission with multiple grid infrastructure projects totaling 350+ miles currently under construction or development. LS Power Grid's transmission business is based in St. Louis, with regional offices in New York and Texas and additional operational facilities in California and Delaware.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

SOURCE LS Power

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE? 440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers 9k+
Digital Media
Outlets 270k+
Journalists
Opted In GET STARTED

MENAFN13032025003732001241ID1109311252