FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) plans an approximate $9 million investment to upgrade the electric transmission grid serving customers in Delaware County in eastern Indiana.
The Kenmore Substation Underground Connection Project involves building about 1/2 mile of 69-kilovolt underground transmission line in Muncie between the Kenmore Substation, located near the intersection of North Tillotson Avenue and West University Avenue, and existing above-ground transmission lines located near the intersection of West Westview Boulevard and South Tillotson Avenue.
Though I&M rarely places transmission lines underground, growth in the area over the decades since the existing line was built makes it very difficult to replace the overhead line. The underground line is the most cost-effective alternative for enhancing and ensuring reliable service to the area.
In the coming months, company representatives plan to talk with individual property owners about what to expect before, during and after construction.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I&M and its contractors are limiting in-person visits with property owners during associated field activities to ensure the safety and health of the public and company representatives.
The company expects to begin construction at the beginning of 2021 and conclude in early 2022. Additional details, including project area maps, are available at IndianaMichiganPower.com/KenmoreUnderground.
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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,100 employees serve more than 599,000 customers. More than two-thirds of its energy delivered in 2019 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,300 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy Warner
Indiana Michigan Power Communications
Cell: 260-479-9484
tkwarner@aep.com