Project Overview

ATC will soon begin constructing a 6-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line that will connect a new substation, called the Oak Ridge Substation, in Fitchburg with an existing substation in Verona located near the intersection of Highways M and PB. The route that was approved by the PSC in January 2008 runs primarily along fish Hatchery Road, Adams Road and Highway M.  The new Oak Ridge Substation has been constructed on a site near the intersection of Fish Hatchery and Irish Lane. It was placed in service and began serving Fitchburg customers May 2009. 

The estimated cost of the transmission line and the new substation is $22.6 million. This new line is essential to strengthening maintaining reliability in the rapidly growing areas of southern Dane County and northern Green County, where usage is growing at an annual rate of approximately 6 percent, more than twice the statewide average.

ATC originally proposed in 2005 an electric solution to construct a new 138-kilovolt transmission line between Fitchburg and Montrose, which also would have included the construction of two new substations. During the routing and siting process, ATC reevaluated the project based on public input and determined that an alternative solution between Fitchburg and Verona solved the electrical problem while minimizing the amount of new right-of-way that would be needed for the line.

At a glance
Wisconsin communities affected: Fitchburg and Verona. The area including Oregon, Verona, Paoli, Basco, Montrose, Belleville, Brooklyn and Fitchburg all benefit.
Length of line: Approximately 6 miles
End points: New substation (called Oakridge) in Fitchburg to existing Verona substation
Voltage: 138 kilovolts
Estimated cost: $22.6 million

Schedule*
Public open houses: July 2005 to Spring 2006
PSC approval of project and routing: January 2008

Construction start: Summer 2008
Oakridge Substation in service: May 2009

Anticipated in-service date for transmission line: First quarter 2010
*Subject to changes

For more information or to comment on this project, e-mail Charlie Gonzales or call 1-866-899-3204, extension 3644.