TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipower said that it will build a new substation in Taoyuan's Guanyin District, which is expected to draw power from the nearby Tatan Power Plant, aiming to stabilize the city's electricity supply.

According to Taipower, the number of electricity users in Taoyuan has increased by 17.4% over the past decade. The city's electricity consumption has reached 27.1 billion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 11% of the nation's total usage.

The substation will feature a fully indoor design, with major electrical equipment installed inside the building. The facility will also be equipped with multiple safety protection measures, per CNA.

To address community concerns, the substation will be located at least 89 meters from any residential buildings, ensuring that electromagnetic fields will not affect the surrounding area. Taipower will install displays to monitor electromagnetic fields around the facility, with real-time data available on its website. Additionally, all nearby transmission lines will be buried 20 to 40 meters underground.

Taipower explained that a substation's primary role is to convert and distribute electricity. Therefore, substations must be located near consumption areas, rather than at the power plant, to minimize energy loss from long-distance transmission and the risk of transmission line issues.

Currently, electricity from the Tatan Power Plant is routed to a substation in Hsinchu’s Hukou Township, then to the Longtan Substation in Taoyuan before being distributed throughout southern Taoyuan.

Some residents living near the planned substation site have voiced opposition to the project, claiming that Taipower failed to conduct a proper environmental assessment and adequately communicate with the community before deciding on the project. The residents are concerned the facility could negatively impact their health and property values.