Firewheel Town Center is Energized Before Buildings Go Up

GARLAND, Texas, November 8, 2004 -- Drive by the Firewheel Town Center site and it is immediately obvious that construction is well underway. GP&L crews have been working for months to ensure that the Town Center has all the energy needed, even before one store opens.

"Electricity has to be a step ahead of construction," said T&D Construction Crew Foreman Jimmy Caston. "We're getting these transformers installed so that Dillard 's, Foley's and the other stores have plenty of power during construction."

GP&L crews started installing feeder cable for the Town Center in late summer. Feeder lines flow in from four separate substations, an approach that ensures if any substation or line goes down, electricity will continue to flow to the Town Center from the three other sources.

The crew has installed cable from two substations, Ben Davis and Firewheel. Cable from the final two substations, Brand and Naaman, is scheduled to be installed in mid-2005.

Other than duct line and conduit work, "this is an all-GP&L job," said Jimmy, commenting on the fact that relatively little contracting work was involved in the project. GP&L has laid two miles of primary cable so far.

Using a special heavy-duty crane, GP&L is installing about approximately 16 transformers ranging from 150 KVA to 2000 KVA.

The Firewheel Town Center is scheduled to open in fall 2005.