Middle Tennesee Electric officials recently energized a new substation that has increased power reliability for the residents and businesses in southern Rutherford County. 

Middle Tennessee Electric Communications Coordinator Todd Palmer told WGNS.

The substation, which took about a year and approximately $3 million to build, is located off Highway 99, just past Old Rockvale Road. The new construction will improve system efficiency for approximately 4,000 Middle Tennessee Electric members. 

A substation is the point where Middle Tennessee Electric receives electricity from Tennessee Valley Authority power lines. The substation distributes electricity through a network of breakers, transformers and power lines to MTEMC members. 

Middle Tennessee Electric serves more than 180,000 residential and business members in Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson counties. It is the sixth largest electric cooperative in the nation.