Power management company Eaton has been awarded a US$5.4M contract from the US Army Corps of Engineers to lead a life extension and electrical modernisation project at Philpott Dam in Bassett, Virginia. The agreement includes the design, manufacturing, delivery, installation and commissioning of electrical powerhouse distribution and control systems, as well as oversight of the construction of a new building to house the upgraded electrical equipment.
The hydroelectric station currently includes three units that produce 14MW of power for around 1600 homes. Under the contract, Eaton will replace ageing equipment, some dating back to 1953 when the dam was first in service, with modern technology including switchgear, governor controls, automatic voltage regulators and power transformers. The company will manage the project to minimise power outages and expects it to be completed by June 2016.
Eaton has been awarded several hydropower generation projects this year. It completed a project for Green Mountain Power to modernise, upgrade and automate the electric system at a hydroelectric plant in Vermont, as well as working with the Public Service of New Hampshire to optimise power generation at a hydroelectric station there.
