Construction of the substation has "been very targeted in thesense that certain areas of the city have experienced positiveeconomic development. With that, we need to invest in theinfrastructure to anticipate increased demand for electricity andupgrade our facilities to handle it," says Wood. PECO also seesthis as an opportunity to modernize some of the city's agingelectricity infrastructure.

"Particularly in the Old City and Center City sections ofdowntown, the substations and underground infrastructure is decadesold and these new facilities will replace substations that havebeen nearing retirement age," Wood explains.

Southwark is the third of four new substations in thePhiladelphia area. The Tuna substation along North Delaware Avenuewas completed in 2005, followed by the Waverly substation in CenterCity in 2007. A fourth substation, which will support theUniversity City and West Philadelphia area, is planned forcompletion in 2009. These four substations represent a $120 millioninvestment in the city's electric distribution system.