There was a coordinated effort to replace a transformer at Sarnia Police Headquarters Tuesday morning.
Manager of Planning, Policy, Fleet and Facilities Jason Dale said a crane was on site to carry out the operation behind the Christina Street building.
"There was a very large [cement] encasement on top of the transformer that had to be removed," said Dale. "We understand it was just there for aesthetics when the building was built. It weighed approximately 12,000 pounds, so it necessitated a very large crane to remove it."
Manager of Planning, Policy, Fleet and Facilities Jason Dale outside Sarnia Police headquarters. April 4, 2023. (Photo by Melanie Irwin)
Dale said it cost about $20,000 just to lift the cement encasement off.
"We've got multiple contractors, Bluewater Power and the crane company here on site," he said.
He added Bluewater Power will pay for the new transformer.
"A transformer takes the power from the road, which is at a higher voltage -- approximately 4,100 volts -- and it drops it down to a usable voltage inside the building of 208 volts," he said.
Dale said the equipment was failing.
"The transformers are cooled internally by oil and the oil is leaking out of this one, just because it's so old," he said. "So, it could overheat and stop working."
He added there was no damage from the leak, due to the protective shell around the transformer that captured the oil.
There was no impact to operations inside police headquarters while the work was carried out, because the building's electricity usage was shifted to the on-site generator.
