We recently got the chance to explore a working electricity substation. Thanks to Melbourne’s Open House weekend, Megan and I took the opportunity to take a tour around the bunker like facility.
The JA Substation is part of Melbourne’s electricity grid. The substation was once a small part of a larger coal based power station. At that time, the city council owned and operated Melbourne’s power supplies.
Today, electricity generation is in private hands and has been moved out of the city centre. What remains in the city centre are a handful of substations distributing and stepping down power for the local grid.
The windowless JA Substation exterior
Tour group wearing safety gear
Staff are protected by metal cages
View into equipment room including industrial scales fuses
Switches
Danger High Voltage
Mimic board overseeing substation control
Paper strip over control panel
Massive power cables running out underneath the streets