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.

Monroe County-Council Creek

American Transmission Co. received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to rebuild an existing electric transmission line that connects the Monroe County Substation near Sparta and the Council Creek Substation near Tomah. ATC also built a new substation as part of the project.

The project involved replacing the structures and wires of the existing 69-kilovolt transmission line, and adding a 161-kV circuit to the new steel structures. Transmission line work was generally completed within the existing right-of-way area. To allow for flexibility on the 69-kV system, ATC also built the new Timberwolf Substation approximately 1/2 mile south of Interstate 90 along Highway 131.

The existing 69-kV transmission system that served the area was approximately 40 years old and was susceptible to overloads and severe low voltages. Rebuilding the 17-mile line and adding the new 161-kV circuit strengthened the reliability of the electric system that serves the area. In addition, the new line provides economic savings by increasing the system’s ability to access lower-cost generation and reducing energy losses.

Project at a Glance
Communities affected:City of Sparta, Town of Angelo, Fort McCoy Military Reservation, Town of Adrian, Town of Tomah, City of Tomah
Line length:Approximately 17 miles
Voltage:161-kV and 69-kV
Estimated cost:Approximately $49 million
End points:Monroe County Substation in Sparta and Council Creek Substation near Tomah
PSC Docket ID:137-CE-158 Visit the PSC website
Schedule*
Public open houses:Summer-fall 2010
Application submitted to PSC:July 2010
Regulatory review:2010-2012
PSC decision:Nov. 2012
Begin construction:2014
In-service date:April 20, 2015