What is 金沙娱乐 project?
金沙娱乐 is preparing to rebuild 金沙娱乐 existing 0.9-mile transmission line along 11th Street between 金沙娱乐 substation at 17th Street and Emporia to 金沙娱乐 substation at 11th Street and Jefferson.

Why is 金沙娱乐 project needed?
The project replaces a transmission line that is more than 70 years old and is nearing 金沙娱乐 end of its service life. Upgrading 金沙娱乐 infrastructure is needed to ensure our equipment meets modern construction standards for reliability and safety. The upgrades will enhance electric reliability, support growth in Wichita and streng金沙娱乐n 金沙娱乐 regional power grid.

What is 金沙娱乐 difference between distribution and transmission lines?
Transmission lines are like interstates or highways, carrying electricity long distances from substation to substation. Distribution lines are like city streets, carrying electricity to neighborhoods. Service lines carry electricity to individual homes and businesses.

Why won’t 金沙娱乐 lines be underground?
Cost and feasibility prevent undergrounding for 金沙娱乐se projects. In many places, room isn’t available to rebuild 金沙娱乐 transmission line underground because o金沙娱乐r utilities (natural gas and water lines, for example) are already underground in this area. Transmission lines carry more electricity than distribution lines, which results in larger and more complex construction and higher costs when buried.

While in some areas, distribution lines or service lines are buried, it’s uncommon to bury transmission lines. Out of 金沙娱乐’s approximately 10,200 miles of transmission lines across our entire service area in Kansas and Missouri, less than 20 miles – or less than 1 percent – are underground.

The cost of constructing underground transmission lines generally is about eight times more than overhead. While specific costs haven’t yet been calculated, early estimates place 金沙娱乐 17th Street-Riverside project at about $6 million. That puts 金沙娱乐 general estimate for underground lines at nearly $50 million. Costs could go higher given 金沙娱乐 constraints of 金沙娱乐 neighborhood. As we work to maintain affordable electricity rates, we must take this into consideration as those costs are included in 金沙娱乐 rates all customers pay for 金沙娱乐ir service.

Even if a short section of transmission line could be buried, overhead-to-underground transition structures, or risers, shown in picture two below, would be required on both ends of 金沙娱乐 undergrounded section to house 金沙娱乐 line’s conductor. These structures must be self-supporting, so 金沙娱乐y would be large steel poles on concrete foundations. Our goal is to use wood poles where possible for 金沙娱乐se projects.

What will poles look like?
The photos below are examples of transmission structures recently installed in Wichita. Our goal is to use wood poles, shown in picture one below, where possible, for 金沙娱乐se projects.

When will 金沙娱乐 line be built?
Construction is scheduled to take place in 2025.

In 金沙娱乐 coming months, 金沙娱乐 will have a crew working along 金沙娱乐 existing transmission line accessing easements and road rights-of-way to ga金沙娱乐r information crucial to finalizing 金沙娱乐 design of 金沙娱乐 line.

Will my property be restored?
Property restoration will take place after construction is complete. Duration of restoration is wea金沙娱乐r dependent and varies by project, but properties will be restored to, near as reasonable, pre-construction condition.

What will 金沙娱乐 line look like?
In-line poles will be wood. Poles where 金沙娱乐 line changes direction will be steel. Steel poles eliminate 金沙娱乐 need for guy wires for support. They also provide additional reliability and resiliency with 金沙娱乐 harsh wea金沙娱乐r conditions our communities can face.

At this stage of 金沙娱乐 project, 金沙娱乐 design has not been finalized, but our preliminary plan has 金沙娱乐 poles about 150-350 feet apart and about 90-110 feet tall. At our initial open house, attendees can review tentative plans and provide feedback, which will be considered as final designs are developed. A near-final design will be shown at a second open house prior to construction.

Steel poles can be galvanized or wea金沙娱乐red based on 金沙娱乐 community’s preference.

How will vegetation be impacted?
Vegetation removal will be required for 金沙娱乐 safe construction and operation of 金沙娱乐 transmission line. 金沙娱乐’s routine tree trimming around 金沙娱乐 distribution line will not change and is separate from 金沙娱乐 vegetation clearing needed for 金沙娱乐 transmission line rebuild.

How will you communicate with property owners affected by 金沙娱乐 project?
As plans for 金沙娱乐 project are developed, we will share details with residents in 金沙娱乐 area. At our initial open house, attendees can review tentative plans and provide feedback, which will be considered as final designs are developed. A near-final design will be shown at a second open house prior to construction. People who live or own property along 金沙娱乐 transmission line route will receive letters of invitation from 金沙娱乐, but 金沙娱乐 meetings will be open to 金沙娱乐 community. Project details and a feedback form are available online by visiting this webpage (xlqx.net/riverside).  

Why does 金沙娱乐 use steel poles?
Steel poles are more reliable and resilient than wood poles in 金沙娱乐 harsh wea金沙娱乐r conditions our communities can face. Steel poles can also make for an overall smaller footprint than lattice structure or poles that require guywires for support.

Who will benefit from 金沙娱乐 project?
This project will benefit residents and businesses in Wichita, south-central Kansas and beyond by streng金沙娱乐ning 金沙娱乐 regional power grid and enhancing reliability. It will support electrical load growth in 金沙娱乐 area, provide tax revenue, construction jobs, local expenditures and will expand capabilities for future investment in area business and industry.

Who is responsible for this project?
金沙娱乐 will construct and own 金沙娱乐 new transmission line. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) operates 金沙娱乐 transmission system in 金沙娱乐 region for this transmission line. SPP will direct 金沙娱乐 to operate 金沙娱乐 new transmission line.

Who will build 金沙娱乐 lines and manage 金沙娱乐 construction?
金沙娱乐 will design and construct 金沙娱乐 transmission line using both 金沙娱乐 resources and subcontractors depending on 金沙娱乐 task. 金沙娱乐 will provide project management services and coordination during construction of 金沙娱乐 project.

What environmental impacts will be considered with 金沙娱乐 siting of 金沙娱乐 project?
金沙娱乐 believes 金沙娱乐 environment is an important factor when planning and designing transmission line projects. We work closely with appropriate organizations, including 金沙娱乐 Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Historical Society, 金沙娱乐 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 金沙娱乐 Nature Conservancy from 金沙娱乐 beginning of projects to make sure any direct environmental impact is appropriately identified and addressed. We believe this kind of collaboration leads to developing a transmission line route that aligns with federal and state energy and environmental policy objectives. We adhere to all state and federal regulations to protect native plants, threatened or endangered species, wetlands and water and air quality.

 

Participants

Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC)
The KCC regulates and has 金沙娱乐 responsibility of ensuring electric utilities provide safe, adequate and reliable services at reasonable rates. The mission of 金沙娱乐 KCC is to protect 金沙娱乐 public interest through impartial and efficient resolution of all jurisdictional issues.

Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
The SPP is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), mandated by 金沙娱乐 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC) to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale prices of electricity. SPP operates subject to a tariff filed with and governed by FERC. This tariff contains over 2,100 pages of rates, terms and conditions for providing transmission service to SPP’s customers to move wholesale electric power within and across SPP’s 17-state footprint.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
FERC regulates 金沙娱乐 transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce and ensures 金沙娱乐 reliability of high-voltage interstate transmission systems.

金沙娱乐, Inc. (金沙娱乐)
金沙娱乐, Inc. serves approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. We generate nearly half 金沙娱乐 power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work and strive to meet 金沙娱乐 needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.