American Transmission Co. projects

Project website for a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates the high-voltage electric transmission system that powers communities in portions of the Upper Midwest.

Arrowhead-Weston Project

PROJECT STATUS: Completed and in service

Arrowhead-Weston is a 220-mile transmission line connecting Duluth, Minn., with Wausau, Wis. The line was built to accommodate electric load growth in northern Wisconsin and improve reliability of the electric transmission system in the region. The line was energized in February 2008 and is now moving up to 800MW of power. Arrowhead-Weston adds an important element to Wisconsin’s transmission infrastructure – much-needed reliability to a seriously constrained system.

In late 2007, the last of 1,564 structures was placed along the 220-mile Arrowhead-Weston 345-kilovolt transmission line. The Arrowhead-Weston transmission line crossed eight counties and 44 municipalities.

ATC honored with EEI Edison Award for 220-mile Arrowhead-Weston transmission line

The Edison Electric Institute, the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies, awarded the industry’s highest honor, the Edison Award, to American Transmission Co. in recognition of its extraordinary work in completing the 220-mile Arrowhead- Weston transmission line ahead of schedule and within the approved budget.

When construction of the Arrowhead-Weston line began in 2005, it was the largest transmission line project underway in the country. The project initially faced considerable opposition, but ATC gradually earned the public’s trust to construct this vital piece of infrastructure.

Construction on the project was completed – safely – seven months early and the line was put into service in January 2008, four months ahead of schedule. The project cost was $439 million, which was within the 5 percent contingency set by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Construction also was performed in an environmentally responsible manner and environmentally sensitive areas are continually monitored.

In addition to providing increased reliability to the electric grid locally and regionally, the new line provides access to lower-cost electricity and improved capability to deliver it to customers. There was an estimated savings of more than $5 million to electricity customers after the line’s first year of service.

Click to learn more about the Edison Award.