I have some unfortunate news regarding HELCO's old Goodwin Lane substation in East Hartford, CT.


This sub, which stepped 23 kV down to 4.8 kV delta for local distribution, has been placed out of service and is in the process of being dismantled by EVERSOURCE Energy. All of the old pothead risers from the two-phase era surrounding this substation are now gone:




The additional 4.8 kV circuit that left the sub on aerial cable is now gone as well:



It appears that EVERSOURCE Energy has "trimmed" the edges of the 4.8 kV distribution system by rebuilding them to 23 kV and then feeding the remainder of the 4.8 kV system off of pole-mounted stepdown banks.

As part of that process, a few of our old favorite poles are also now gone, including this one:


For many years, East Hartford featured one of the best surviving substation-fed 4.8 kV systems in Connecticut. But I fear, though, that under EVERSOURCE Energy, those days are coming to a close.