ROCHELLE — City officials and Rochelle Municipal Utilities marked the start of construction Tuesday on a new electrical substation on Centerpoint Drive off Illinois Route 38. The project is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2026 and is estimated to cost about $20 million. The work is being paid for with RMU reserves and will not affect customer electric rates. RMU Superintendent Blake Toliver said they are making great progress.
“The substation itself should be substantially complete by the end of October,” he said Tuesday. “Things are full steam ahead out here, and the contractor’s been doing a great job of staying on top of things.“
The Rochelle City Council worked with area landowners for a two year construction easement from the Richard and Doris Kennay Trust to support the project.