The Avista Corp. Spokane Metro Substation project is well underway, with a perimeter security wall structure, hardscaping, and landscaping slated to be completed by August, communications manager David Vowels says. 

The Spokane Metro Substation project currently is rising on the 700 block of West Third Avenue. The energy company is investing $73 million into the new substation, which will serve the core of downtown Spokane.

Spokane-based contractor Bouten Construction Co. is constructing the exterior security wall, some internal infrastructure, and landscaping improvements.

Garco Construction Inc. of Spokane, began in-street work last year that consisting of installing underground infrastructure that will connect the Spokane Metro Substation to the existing underground electrical network. Garco will continue that work through this fall, Vowels says. 

On the interior of the security wall, contractors will begin constructing the 115-kilovolt substation and preparing the site for internal Avista crews to install the electrical equipment and systems to make the facility operational, Vowels says. Beginning later this year, the project also will undergo two years of electrical construction with planned energization in 2027. 

Once completed, the Spokane Metro Substation will be home to four transmission lines: two underground and two above ground. It will be equipped with two distribution transformers plus a spare transformer. The underground feeders will serve customers in the downtown core and outlying areas. 

The new substation is an investment into providing safe, reliable services to its customers, Vowels says.

“Avista has a continued commitment to making capital investments to enhance service and system reliability,” he adds.  

As previously reported by the Journal, the Spokane Metro Substation will replace aging power transformers and other power equipment currently serving the downtown core from an existing substation at 158 S. Post, three city blocks northwest of the Third Avenue site. The Post Street substation near the Steam Plant Square complex will be decommissioned once the new facility is operational.