FORT WAYNE, Ind., March 17, 2022 – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is dedicated to providing customers with safe and reliable power. I&M plans to invest approximately $66 million to enhance the electrical network in Berrien and Cass counties in Michigan and St. Joseph County, Indiana.
The Niles Area Transmission Improvements Project involves upgrading or expanding three substations, building two new substations and building approximately 3.5 miles of high-voltage transmission line to connect the new substations to the electrical network. Crews plan to complete the project in three phases, listed below, with construction beginning in fall 2023 and concluding in spring 2024.
- The Niles North component, located in Cass County, involves expanding the existing 69-kilovolt (kV) Kenzie Creek Substation, rebuilding the 138-kV Pokagon Substation and building approximately 1.5 miles of new 69-kV transmission line.
- The Niles Central component, located in Berrien and Cass counties, involves building the new 69-kV FourFlag Substation, upgrading the 69-kV Lake Street Substation, retiring 2.5 miles of 34.5-kV transmission line and building a half-mile extension of 69-kV transmission line to connect the new substation to the electrical network.
- The Niles South component, located in St. Joseph County, Indiana, involves building the new 138-kV Boundary Substation, building 1 mile of 138-kV transmission line and building a half-mile 69-kV transmission line.
“The Niles Area Transmission Improvements Projects enables Indiana Michigan Power to upgrade and replace aging equipment, some of which have been in operation since the 1960’s,” said Mona Livingston, I&M Community Affairs manager. “This project will also enhance reliability for decades to come in the Michiana area and support our area’s economic and residential growth.”
In-person open houses for the Niles Area Transmission Improvements are scheduled later this month. The dates and locations for the events are:
- Wednesday, March 30, 5- 7 p.m.
- Grand LV (Fifty5 room), 104 N. 3rd Street, Niles, MI 49120
- Thursday, March 31, 5-7 p.m.
- Navarre at The Brick (Main Banquet Room), 1145 Northside Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46615
I&M is committed to keeping you informed, while keeping our customers and employees safe and healthy during COVID-19. The project team is monitoring local health ordinances and Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations regarding face coverings and plans to provide face coverings for visitors who wish to wear one.
For the safety of the community and the project team, those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or are feeling unwell, are asked to please visit the virtual open house on the project website at www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/NilesArea to learn more about the project and provide feedback.
I&M representatives urge landowners and community members to submit their feedback on these projects by Monday, April 18.
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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,100 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 80% of its energy delivered in 2021 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 35 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 powering a cleaner, brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP’s approximately 16,700 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 30,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy. The company’s plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2030. AEP is on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 levels by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2050. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. 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, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.
Media Contact:
Schneè Doyle
Communications Consultant Sr.
574-218-5987
smgarrett@aep.com