Indio, IID complete major substation expansion to support city’s growing energy needs

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A major electrical infrastructure project is now complete in Indio, adding enough power capacity to serve the equivalent of approximately 2,500 new homes as the city continues to grow.

The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the City of Indio marked the completion and energization of the Avenue 42 Substation Expansion Project on Tuesday.

The project added a third 28-megavolt-ampere transformer bank to the existing substation, increasing the amount of electricity IID can deliver to support future residential and commercial development.

The expansion is the first of four major infrastructure projects planned through a partnership between IID and the City of Indio.

But as the city continues to expand, questions remain about what the investment means for existing customers, including electrical reliability during extreme summer heat and the cost of electricity.

News Channel 3's Raymond Kalra spoke with Indio's mayor, IID and local residents and business owners about the project's impact, the city's growing energy needs and concerns over affordability.

Watch News Channel 3 at 5 p.m. for the full story on what this expansion means for Indio residents and businesses.