[June 27, 2014]LINCOLN - Ameren Illinois is investing
approximately $2.7 million in electric infrastructure upgrades to
improve the reliability and performance of its energy delivery
system in Logan County.
The rebuild of 8 miles of distribution power lines and utility
poles will enable the company to better meet the energy needs of its
residential and business customers, while accommodating expected
increases in demand.
The power line project will be completed in four phases:
Phase I – 1100th Street to 875th Street (Lincoln) 3 miles of
line and utility poles replaced.
Investment $917,000. Project completed in 2013.
Phase II – 875th Street to 700th Street (Lincoln) 2.5 miles
of line and utility poles replaced.
Investment: $600,000. Project just completed.
Phase III – 700th Street to Casimir Substation (Mount
Pulaski) 1.5 miles of line and utility poles replaced. Investment:
$400,000. Project to be completed in 2015.
Phase IV- Casimir Substation to Mount Pulaski Substation
(Mount Pulaski) 1 mile of line and utility poles replaced.
Investment: estimated at $250,000. Project start date TBD.
Substation upgrades:
Upgrade substation equipment inside the McGrath Substation on
Nicholson Road in Lincoln. The new equipment will improve service
reliability.
Investment: $136,000. Project to be completed at the end of June.
Upgrade substation equipment inside the Kickapoo Substation on
Hickox Drive in Lincoln. The new equipment will improve service
reliability.
Investment: $182,000. Project completed at the beginning of June.
Upgrade regulator capacity inside Casimir Substation in Mount
Pulaski on North Winter Street. Regulators automatically adjust to
low- and high-load situations to assure customers have proper
voltage to run electrical equipment.
Investment: $230,000. Project to be completed in late December.
“Improving service reliability is a central component of our
plan to upgrade the grid,” said Daetta Jones, Director of
Division III Operations for Ameren Illinois. “In addition to our
ongoing system maintenance work, we’re investing additional
resources in Logan County and throughout central and southern
Illinois to improve service reliability for our customers.”
“We’re looking ahead to what our customers’ energy needs will be
in the future and preparing to meet those needs today,” said
Richard J. Mark, President and CEO of Ameren Illinois. “These
projects are not only strengthening the grid, but they are
adding jobs and providing a boost to local economies.”
Ameren Illinois is investing $3.5 billion over the next five
years to build a next generation energy delivery system and
create jobs in central and southern Illinois. The company is
fortifying utility poles, installing intelligent switches and
sensors, upgrading the natural gas delivery network, and
installing advanced meters throughout its service territory. The
upgrades will improve service reliability and provide customers
with information they can use to take control of their energy
usage and costs. From the beginning of 2012 until March 31,
2014, Ameren has hired 730 Illinois-based employees. Factoring
in natural attrition, this hiring has resulted in a net increase
of 452 employees supporting Ameren Illinois electric and natural
gas service operations. For more information, visit
AmerenIllinois.com/focus.
[Text received; BRIAN E. BRETSCH,
AMEREN ILLINOIS]
About Ameren Illinois Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and
807,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission
is to power the quality of life. Our service territory covers more
than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more
information, visit AmerenIllinois.com .
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