Spring Valley-North Lake Geneva Electric Reliability Project
Project overview
American Transmission Co. received approval for a new and upgraded electric transmission facilities to keep pace with growing electricity demand in southern Walworth and western Kenosha counties in Wisconsin. The project involves:
- Construction of a new 138,000-volt transmission line of approximately 23 miles, stretching from the existing North Lake Geneva Substation in southern Walworth County to the existing Spring Valley Substation in western Kenosha County.
- Construction of the new 138- and 69-kV Balsam Substation on an ATC-owned parcel along Hwy. 50 in the Town of Wheatland.
- Construction of a new 69-kV transmission line to connect the new substation to the existing Twin Lakes Substation in Twin Lakes.
Need for the project
Studies indicate that the estimated $70.6 million project will deliver benefits to the area by strengthening the electric system to meet the growing use of electricity. The area electric transmission system is vulnerable to low voltages and power outages and will no longer adequately support the lower-voltage distribution system. This project will provide system redundancy and allow for maintenance outages when repairs are needed.
The proposed final routes were included in ATC’s application to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in spring 2015 under Docket No. 137-CE-167. In early March 2016 the PSC indicated approval for Proposed Route 1, the blue route.
| Project introduced to the public | Early 2013 |
| Potential routes studied and evaluated | Early 2013 through Fall 2014 |
| Environmental field review | Spring 2014 |
| Open houses | January 2015 |
| Submit application to PSC | Spring 2015 |
| PSC hearings | Fall 2015 |
| Receive PSC decision | March 2016 |
| Design line and obtain easements | 2016 and 2017 |
| Start construction | Fall 2018 |
| Project in service | Winter 2019 |