MARION – Ameren Illinois line workers and substation electricians are taking a proactive approach to keeping the lights on as the Ohio River continues to rise near Old Shawneetown, Shawneetown and Junction. With the Ameren electric substation that serves customers in the community predicted to be inoperable due to flooding conditions, the company is installing a portable substation on higher ground to ensure a continuous flow of power until conditions improve.

To get the mobile substation up and running, crews pulled the heavy equipment onto higher ground in the area, installed cables to the portable unit, energized it and then rerouted power from the existing in substation Old Shawneetown to the portable unit. To keep the mobile substation safe and secure, the crew set up a temporary fence. The company is also taking extra precautionary steps to make the local community aware that it is an active, energized substation.

Ameren Illinois has 22 portable substations already secured on trailers and ready to be transported where they are needed. When needed, the mobile units can restore power to thousands of homes while repairs are being made to substation equipment that has malfunctioned. Ameren Illinois maintains several portable substations at its material distribution center in Decatur and stages several other portable substations at operating centers throughout its 43,700-square mile service territory.

Once flood waters recede, line worker and substation electricians will check the permanent substation for damage and eventually route power through the permanent facility once again.