wiredinUSA October 2013

Westar Energy and ITC Great Plains, a transmission utility, have won approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission to build a 345kV transmission line between Saline and Cloud counties. At an estimated cost of nearly $113 million, the 60 mile stretch will connect Westar's Summit substation (about five miles northeast of Assaria) to ITC's ElmCreek substation (four miles northwest of Aurora). Westar's share of the cost is around $66 million, with ITC picking up the balance. The line is planned to "improve electric reliability and efficiency in central Kansas, and ensure electricity is available to support economic growth in the area." Construction is expected to begin in mid-2014, and the targeted completion for the line will be late 2016, according to the Westar release. The project costs will be absorbed over 40 years from customers in the Southwest Power Pool region, which includes Kansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Nebraska, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri. Initially, Westar's portion of the project will cost Southwest Power Pool customers 65 cents a year, and 45 cents a year from ITC, according to spokesman Joe Kirik. That amount will depreciate by roughly 2.5 percent a year, added Gina Penzig, the Westar spokeswoman.

Kansas Transmission line approval

wiredInUSA - October 2013

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