New $500 M transmission line planned
The proposed line will cross four Kansas counties and support regional power grid growth by 2029.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Kansas: The Kansas Corporation Commission is seeking public feedback after Evergy, a major utility company, proposed a new 214-km (133-mi) transmission line spanning four Kansas counties at an estimated cost of nearly $500 M.
The line would begin at the Buffalo Flats substation near Garden Plain in Sedgwick County and continue through Sumner, Cowley, and Chautauqua counties, ending in Delaware, Oklahoma. American Electric Power would construct an additional 48 km (30 mi) of the line in Oklahoma.
According to Evergy, the new infrastructure will improve electrical reliability across Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley, and Chautauqua counties, strengthen the regional grid, and prepare the area for future growth. The line will also allow electricity to flow in both directions.
Construction is planned in stages, with Sedgwick County work starting in autumn 2027, followed by Sumner and Cowley counties in spring 2028, and Chautauqua County in summer 2028. The line is expected to be fully operational by December 2029.
The route was selected after open houses with landowners and consultations with state and federal agencies. Evergy noted that final costs may vary depending on the route, structure design, commodity prices, and labour rates. Residential customers in the Southwest Power Pool pricing zone would share a portion of the cost. The company estimates the average customer using 1,000 kWh per month would pay an additional $3.37 (£2.70) per year starting in 2029, with costs decreasing over time due to efficiencies created by the new line.
Source: The Wichita Eagle
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