American Transmission Company: Monroe County – Council Creek transmission line project is in service

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Project improves electric reliability in western Wisconsin communities

MADISON, Wis. – American Transmission Co. on Monday placed into service a transmission line project that will strengthen electric reliability and improve access to lower cost energy in the region. The project involved building a new substation in Tomah, upgrading an approximately 17-mile, 69,000-volt electric transmission line from the Monroe County Substation in Sparta to the Council Creek Substation in Tomah and adding a 161-kV circuit to the line.

“This project is certainly a team effort, and a big thanks goes out to the other four utilities involved – Xcel Energy, Alliant Energy, Oakdale Electric Cooperative and Dairyland Power Cooperative – whose high level of coordination and flexibility helped make it a success,” said Andy Schaeve, ATC project manager. “I also would like to thank the construction crews who worked more than 80,000 hours on this project over a span of 18 months with no lost-time injuries.”

ATC filed an application to construct the project with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in July 2010, and received approval in November 2012. The project is projected to come within the PSC-approved budget of approximately $49 million.