News release from Indiana Michigan Power:
I&M announces Melita Reliability Enhancement Project in Fort Wayne
(October 13, 2015) – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an operating unit of American Electric Power, is continuing enhancements to the region’s electric transmission system with a $50 million reliability enhancement project southwest of downtown Fort Wayne.
The Melita Reliability Enhancement Project is critical to provide the continued distribution of electricity more effectively to those we serve. Improvements also prepare the area for future economic development by attracting new business to the area and allowing existing businesses to compete and expand.
The two key components of the Melita Reliability Enhancement Project are constructing a new 69 kilovolt (kV) transmission line approximately two miles in length and replacing the aging Webster Substation with a new Melita Substation. The existing Webster Substation, a key part of the downtown electric network, has been in service since the 1920s and must be replaced to adhere to updated standards. Together, these enhancements will strengthen the electric transmission infrastructure and help ensure continued reliability.
Throughout this process, I&M has strived for continuing communication with area landowners, sharing information and receiving feedback from the public and affected landowners. As part of that process, I&M will host a follow-up public open house Thursday, October 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fort Wayne Community Center, 233 W. Main St.
Project representatives will be available to gather public input to determine the best location for the new power line corridors and to obtain valuable local community input. The information gathered will be used in the siting process to determine the final line route. Residents who attend will also be able to see concept drawings of the appearance of the new station, which will be located farther away from the neighborhood’s homes.
Additional information about the project, including a project timeline, fact sheet and maps can be found at www.IndianaMichiganPower.com.
About Indiana Michigan Power
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,450 employees serve more than 589,000 customers. It operates 2,600 MW of coal-fired generation in Indiana, 2,160 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan and 22 MW of hydro generation in both states. The company also provides its customers 450 MW of purchased wind generation and, by the end of 2016, approximately 15 MW of utility-scale solar generation.American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 32,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.
Download the Melita Reliability Enhancement Project map.
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