During a recent inspection and scheduled switching procedure at the Rockingham Mall in Salem, NH, Liberty crew members identified a damaged switchgear - a key mechanical component in the electric distribution system that helps keep facilities energized by allowing power to be rerouted from multiple sources if an outage occurs. This redundancy is critical for large commercial centers like the Rockingham Mall, helping ensure stores and restaurants remain open for business.
Replacing the switchgear was imperative, but work would require shutting down power to the entire west half of the mall. Liberty’s engineering and operations teams quickly got to work developing a plan to minimize the impact. Through careful coordination and pre-work, crews were able to isolate the planned outage to only two locations: Macy’s and the on-site casino.
Even that limited outage required creative solutions. Liberty scheduled overnight work so that Macy’s operations would not be affected during business hours. The casino, however, has servers and technical systems that must remain powered at all times.
Switchgear located at the Rockingham mall outside of Macy's.
To keep operations running smoothly, Liberty crews stepped up once again. A temporary generator was installed to supply power to the casino overnight while the switchgear replacement was completed. This allowed critical systems to remain fully operational while crews safely finished the work.
The project demonstrates the value of close collaboration between Liberty and its customers. By coordinating closely with mall management and tenants, Liberty was able to complete critical infrastructure improvements while minimizing disruptions to businesses and the community.
The result is a safer, more reliable electric system with built-in redundancies that will help safeguard power for the Rockingham Mall.