The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 24

THE PANTAGRAPH, BLOOMINGTON. IIXINOI8. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1951. IIVUNTI-FOUB Bloomington Center of Power Network I i 9 i Deotw LjLr0- j. ti 1 ,7 i i I- in ir-rnit-ir -r, -y iimiiBiirii n-r i iimi i i Mil" i i mum i T-i rni-ir--r -r-i nn i ir- i ml i HERE IS the network of transmission lines feeding into Bloomington which make It possible to receive power from six sources in ease of failure or damage of any other plants, lines or station.

These lines carry 138,000 volts each. to help supply its electrical energy was completed in 1925 and was fed into the power station in the photograph above. This station is no longer used and will be dismantled. PRIOR TO 1925 all of the electric energy sold in Bloomington and vicinity by the Illinois Power Co. and its predecessors was made in its generating plant on South Eoosevelt Avenue.

The first transmission line built into Bloomington jpmf v- ft as the line to Champaign. Since Bloomington is so centrally located, it would be virtually impossible for it to ever be without electricity for very long, since there are so many sources. Even if the Illinois Power Company't plants were to suddenly disappear there are other sources of powr over alternate lives which could be switched into service without lengthy delay. Power for Bloomington can come from the following sources: (1) from Havana, through Pekin and Peoriat as it does at the moment, (2) from Havana through Decatur, (3) from Havana through Decatur and Champaign, (4) from south of Decatur" direct, (5) from south of Decatur though Champaign, 16) from LaSalle direct, (7) from the Central Illinois Light Co. at Peoria in an emergency, through any one of three routes, (8) from the Commonwealth Edison Co.

at Pekin in an emergency, through any one of three routes, (9) from the Central Illinois Public Service Co. south Decatur in an emergency through any one of three routes. The average electric customer in Bloomington uses about 100 more kilowatt hours per year than the average customer of all power companies in the United States in fact, Bloomington's residential consumption per capita of electric power is the highest in the state as far as the Illinois Power Co. network is concerned. It is followed closely by Champaign-Urbana.

The fact thai the peak load of electricity in Bloomington in 1926 was 4,500 KW and in December of last year was 19 200 KW is a testimonial to the growth of the local power company. Bloomington is a major switching point in the Illinois Power Company statewide transmission system, which extends from and Galesburg on the north to Mt. Vernon, Chester and Belleville on the south. Major generating stations are a 200,000 KW plant at Havana and a 120,000 KW plant at Wood River. A 60,000 KW plant is under construction at LaSalle.

The lines now being built to LaSalle cost about $15,000 per mile, will open for service March 1, same time icvj (LA- -i -rl i 4 t-i W. K- t1' i'1 LOCAL POWER comes in on tower at left from Havana by way of Pekin and Peoria. One 'side of tower has lines from Peoria; the other side carries power to or from LaSalle. One of four circuit breaker units can be seen at lower right. Hi if Til in velt Avenue sub-station, where it is distributed to circuits which serve the city.

Near your home the voltage is again stepped down 115 and 230 volts, either of which you use in your residence. 2 FOUR NEW transformers, each costing $65,000, are in place at the local power station in the southeast part of the city. They transform incoming1, 138,000 volts to 33,000 volts, which in turn is stepped down to 2,300 or 4,000 volts at the Roose- SI I sfL m. at a iv a iei i 1 1 NEW "H-Frame" wood pole transmission line carried 138,000 volts to or from LaSalle. They arc cheaper than steel towers and do not tie up land.

Power goes into line nearly an inch thick consisting of 30 aluminum and 7 steel wires woven together. pnurph pbotoa by jny ofel AT LEFT is one of the old transformers which will be sent to Champaign for use there. Bank of new ones (one of the four is a relief transformer) can be seen in the center. STEEL STRUCTURE and electrical equipment at right has lines which feed power to local substations through Insulated connections at top. In center is uncompleted tower for the Blooming-too-Champaign line to be operating March 1..