Case Study: Pacific Gas and Electric Company achieves faster, safer brownfield substation construction and $350,000–$400,000 savings with Bentley (Substation, ContextCapture, SYNCHRO)

Pacific Gas and Electric Company - Customer Case Study

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in Fresno undertook a USD 31 million project to reconfigure a 230‑kilovolt section of the Ashlan substation serving over 30,000 customers. The program required expanding the brownfield substation, optimally siting a microwave tower, keeping the power supply uninterrupted, and maintaining safe distances from energized equipment — challenges addressed using Bentley solutions such as Bentley Substation, ContextCapture, and SYNCHRO.

Bentley’s tools were used to create a 3D reality mesh of existing conditions, model the greenfield design, and simulate construction sequencing with SYNCHRO, which identified a dead-end structure that needed removal before site work. By leveraging Bentley’s technology, PG&E captured accurate measurements for tower placement, eliminated on-site risks, and saved three to four days and approximately USD 350,000–400,000.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company