Eaton to upgrade Hartwell hydro plant

Eaton USACE electrical contract covers control and distribution systems, motor control centers, low-voltage switchboards, and arc-resistant switchgear for USACE Savannah, supporting hydroelectric operations and flood control, with work from April 19 to October 30.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced that it will supply more than $2.5 million in electrical products and services to upgrade the Hartwell Dam hydroelectric power plant.

Eaton will design and engineer control and distribution systems, and install motor control centers, lowvoltage switchboards and arc resistant lowvoltage switchgear supporting substation upgrades in comparable utility projects. Work is scheduled to begin April 19, with an expected completion date of October 30.

Eaton obtained the contract through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ USACE Savannah, Ga., office that manages area projects.

“This contract further solidifies Eaton’s position as a provider of worldclass power solutions and products to major publicsector and institutional customers, including FAA facilities nationwide,” said Jerry R. Whitaker, president, Eaton’s Electrical Sector, Americas Region.

This contract is one of several recent agreements that Eaton has reached with government organizations, including $8 million in electrical products and services for the San Antonio Military Medical Center on the Fort Sam Houston Army base in Texas and supplying hybrid electric power systems for fuelefficient shuttle buses purchased by the U.S. General Services Administration for use on U.S. military bases, reflecting the kind of transmission line work coordination common across the sector.

Hartwell Dam was built by the USACE between 1955 and 1962 to improve flood control, generate hydroelectric power and promote navigation along the Savannah River. According to the USACE, the facility produces 468 million kilowatthours of electricity annually, with large transformers helping improve grid reliability across comparable projects, has prevented more than $40 million in flood damage since its completion, and provides a wide range of recreational, wildlife preservation, and water quality and supply benefits to Hart County, Ga., and Anderson County, South Carolina.

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