Duke Energy 'energizes' substation damaged by Helene, prepares for future storms

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A Duke Energy substation damaged by Helene is now energized along the Swannanoa River. A temporary mobile substation has powered the area for almost eight months.

“This one was probably the worst,” Duke Energy Spokesperson Bill Norton said.

Norton said more than 350 of their substations were damaged during Helene.

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The Biltmore substation consists of two “banks.” Bank one is located closer to the river and was destroyed. Bank two was further away on higher ground and is back online after sustaining significant damage during the storm.

“We’re building back to that height, so we’re not just putting it back into place. We’re making it stronger for future storms,” Norton said.

A mobile substation, trucked in from Raleigh has kept the lights on since the storm. That mobile unit will be disassembled and returned across the state after Duke completes repairs to bank two, which will have enough energy to power the area while bank one is being replaced.

Tyler Coates, a senior line tech, and his team have seen the significance of recent Duke Energy upgrades.

Just a few steps away from the Biltmore substation, steel poles that replaced wood ones before the storm are still standing despite a debris flow that included entire buildings. That type of resiliency work is what Duke continues to do in anticipation of future storms.

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“More than likely with a steel pole, a tree will fall on the wire and break the wire and not the pole, which makes restoration much easier and quicker and efficient and safer,” Coates said.

There are still two substations being powered by mobile units in East Asheville and Hot Springs. Norton said it could be months before the permanent structure is powering those substations.