Jensen Utility Vaults Help Power Downtown Sacramento

Reliable power is something most people never think about until it isn’t there.

As downtown Sacramento continues to grow, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) requires an electrical system capable of supporting increasing demand while maintaining reliable service for residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

To meet those needs, SMUD developed Station G, a modern substation designed to replace the aging Station A facility while strengthening the electrical backbone of California’s capital city for decades to come.

Constructing a new electrical substation in the middle of downtown Sacramento presented unique challenges.

The project required underground infrastructure capable of supporting critical utility equipment while fitting within a compact urban jobsite surrounded by existing streets and development.

SMUD also needed structures that could withstand heavy traffic loads, protect sensitive electrical equipment, and provide safe, long-term access for maintenance crews. Tight construction schedules left little room for delays, making close coordination between engineering, manufacturing, and installation essential to keeping the project on schedule.

Jensen engineered and manufactured two custom precast electrical utility vaults measuring 10′ W x 30′ L x 8′ H, along with traffic-rated pull boxes and covers for Station G. To accommodate transportation and installation in a tight urban setting, each vault was manufactured as a segmented system consisting of a base, two risers weighing nearly 80,000 pounds each, and a top slab.

Jensen coordinated was able to meet an aggressive construction schedule while providing a custom solution tailored to the project’s needs. Today, the underground vaults help support the electrical backbone of downtown Sacramento, quietly delivering reliable power beneath one of the city’s busiest corridors.

Need to power your city’s downtown area? Contact Jensen Infrastructure today.