Kissimmee Utility Authority has begun construction on a new $20 million electrical substation in Kissimmee, the largest substation in its 85-square mile service area.

The Domingo Toro Substation will provide power for current and future customers in east Kissimmee, including NeoCity—a new 500-acre master-planned technology district being developed by Osceola County. NeoCity is slated to become a significant and comprehensive global center for smart sensor, photonics and nano-technology research and development.

The substation was named by the utility board in 2007 for Domingo Toro, the utility’s first Hispanic board member. He served from 1997 until 2007 in a variety of roles, including director, assistant secretary, secretary and vice-chairman.

“This substation project marks yet another major investment in infrastructure by KUA,” said board chairman Jeanne Van Meter. “This demonstrates our steadfast commitment to meet the growing energy needs of our community, both now and into the future.”

Site preparation will include trucking in more than 2,600 loads of fill dirt to raise the elevation of the site. Drainage work will follow in September and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall. The substation is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2019.

The contract for construction of the substation was awarded to Kissimmee-based Terry’s Electric, Inc.

Founded in 1901, KUA is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 74,000 customers in Osceola County, Fla. For more information, visit https://kua.com.