Our Distribution System

The AMP distribution system receives electricity from beyond our community's borders and delivers it to you.

Alameda is connected to the outside world at two substations in Oakland, one near Jack London Square and the other near the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.  A 115-kilovolt loop connects these two points with two substations in Alameda, the Jenney Substation in the north side industrial area and the Cartwright Substation at Alameda Point.  This 9-mile loop provides backup for maintenance and in the event of an emergency.

Transformers and switchgear at the Jenney and Cartwright Substations step the power down and distribute it among 14 12-kilovolt primary feeder circuits, each feeding portions of both the Main Island and Bay Farm Island.  (Alameda Point is served through an additional 8 feeders which now are being reworked.)  The substations also are equipped with sophisticated protection equipment in order to ensure safety and maintain our community's significant investment in its electric system.

In the neighborhoods, additional conductors, transformers, capacitors, switches, cutouts, relays, and fuses make up the secondary circuits that bring power to the electric meter at your home or business.  There are about 257 miles of electric distribution circuitry and 3,600 utility poles in Alameda.  Many of our customers are surprised to learn that over half of our distribution system, about 66%, is underground.  The City of Alameda has a long-term program to underground the remaining overhead system.