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Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is rebuilding the Monterey Substation on Del Monte Avenue to strengthen the local power grid and reduce outages for more than 10,000 customers across the Monterey Peninsula.

The project will add 30 megawatts of capacity, enough to power roughly 7,500 homes, serving areas including Monterey and Pacific Grove, as well as Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Jeremy Howard, PG&E’s regional senior manager for the Central Coast, said the rebuild gives the substation “a new lease on life” and positions the system to meet the area’s growing energy demands from new housing, hotels, and businesses.

The upgraded substation will allow PG&E to reroute power more efficiently during outages or maintenance, helping to reduce planned outages by about 50%. It will also support more electric vehicle charging stations and enable easier grid connections for new developments.

The rebuild includes a new transformer, a modern switchgear building, and upgraded power lines. Construction is underway, with the substation expected to be fully operational by late 2026.

“This is a big step forward for Monterey,” Howard said. “It’s going to bring improvement for the community, support cleaner transportation, and make the system stronger for everyone.”

Source: montereyherald.com