Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan brings new transformer to Webster University's St. Louis campus

Webster University’s electrical substation is expanding, in order to offer more stability to the University’s power infrastructure and provide the surrounding community with more electrical capacity. The project is part of an Ameren Missouri program to improve the power supply in the region.

Ameren Missouri launched the Smart Energy Plan (SEP) in 2019 to invest in smart technology, stronger poles and upgraded power lines. This helps reduce outage frequency and improves restoration time when outages do occur.

The SEP project includes upgrading the power lines that supply the Webster University campus substation. This encompasses moving and upgrading the lines along the railroad tracks from older, wooden poles to the sturdier metal poles on the opposite side of the tracks. At least one line will also be relocated underground. The installation of a second transformer is also part of Ameren Missouri's plan and will expand electrical capacity for Webster University and the region by enhancing the reliability of the system and reducing the likelihood of power outages during extreme weather. 

The original substation, located at the intersection of Garden Avenue and South Old Orchard Avenue, was installed in 2015 to support the extra power load expected from the construction of Browning Hall and the parking garage expansion. As part of that project, 16 other buildings on the Webster Groves campus were disconnected from the Webster Groves Community electrical infrastructure and connected to the new substation. This helped unify the University’s power system and created additional capacity for the community for new construction in the surrounding area.