The upgrades will include rebuilding approximately 52 miles of existing transmission lines and making upgrades to substations.
The upgrades are meant to accommodate the retirement of three power plants in the Kanawha and Ohio
The improvements will also address additional issues identified by an independent regional transmission operator.
Although it’s a statewide project, most of the work will be done in the Kanawha Valley
The majority of the Kanawha Valley work will take place between the company’s John Amos Plant and its Turner and Cabin Creek substations, with a key loop in the Cross Lanes area and another in the Kanawha City
Additional work will be done to facilities that feed off the backbone transmission line that runs from Poca to Cabin Creek.
The plan is to remove the current transmission facilities and replace them with similar but sturdier facilities of the same voltage.
Exact routing and construction details will be determined at a later date once additional field work has been done.
Appalachian Power plans to hold two informational meetings within the construction area. The first will be at Poca High School in Poca on July 8 and the second will be held at the Kanawha City Elementary in Kanawha City
Appalachian Power has set up a website where customers can learn more about the project at www.AppalachianPower.com/KanawhaValley.
Once the workshops are completed and the additional field work has been done, the Appalachian Power affiliate, AEP West Virginia Transmission Company, Inc., will file requests with the state Public Service Commission seeking approval to perform the work.
Construction is expected to begin this fall and the work is expected to be completed in 2017.
