Jan. 6, 2020

BERRIEN COUNTY, MI. – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) plans to invest approximately $62 million to upgrade the electric transmission systems to ensure safe and reliable electric service to customers in Berrien County.

The Berrien Springs Area Improvements Project involves:

• Building the Blossom Trail Substation in Eau Claire
• Building approximately ½ mile of transmission line to connect the new Blossom Trail Substation to existing lines
• Upgrading transmission lines from 34.5 kiloVolts (kV) to 69-kV standards to help enhance energy reliability in the area
• Replacing Berrien Springs Substation with the new Boxer Substation in Berrien Springs

The project plan includes rebuilding about 4 miles of power line in four smaller segments in the existing right-of-way. Some sections may include re-routes and require new easements.

I&M representatives will be in contact with landowners and residents throughout the project.

Company officials expect construction to begin early this year and conclude at the end of 2020. For more information, including detailed project area maps, visit IndianaMichiganPower.com/BerrienSprings.

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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,370 employees serve more than 597,000 customers. More than half of its generation is emission-free, including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, 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 2,600 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.