New substations, power lines needed to improve reliability, meet growing demand for electricity
PPL Electric Utilities announced two projects Tuesday (4/7) to improve electric service for customers in portions of Monroe County, Pa.
The projects will help meet growing demand for electricity and improve electric service reliability for thousands of customers in two areas of the county – in the Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley area and in and around Appenzell.
“A new substation and power line are needed in the Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley area to keep up with increased customer demand and to protect existing local power lines from overloading,” said David E. Schleicher, vice president of Transmission for PPL Electric Utilities.
“In the Appenzell area, a new substation and a power line will help improve electric service reliability by providing a second local source of power for customers,” he said.
Schleicher said PPL Electric Utilities has not selected the final routes for the new 138-kilovolt transmission lines. It is expected that the power line in the Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley area will be about 5 to 6 miles long, and the line in the Appenzell area will be about 2 to 3 miles long, depending on the route selected.
The public will have input into where the transmission lines are placed, he said, as part of a detailed study process that also will include performing environmental studies and looking at alternative routes.
“We understand that building new electrical facilities can raise questions, and we want the public’s input on these projects,” Schleicher said.
To provide information and encourage input, PPL Electric Utilities will host public open houses for residents at the following locations and times:
- The Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley open house will be held April 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the West End Fire Company (Main Station), Route 715, Brodheadsville.
- The Appenzell open house will be held April 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Reeders United Methodist Church, Church Road and Route 715, Reeders.
“Input from residents is essential to us as we study where to build new power lines, and we welcome the public to attend these meetings,” Schleicher said. “We want to minimize the impact to property owners and the environment while making sure that we can continue to deliver power safely and reliably to those who count on us.”
Schleicher said residential development in Effort, Jonas and Sun Valley in recent years has pushed the local distribution system to its limit, with loads increasing by more than 5 percent every year.
The new line is needed to meet this growing demand, he said. Having a new substation and a second transmission line serving this area will also give the company flexibility to reroute power and keep the lights on for as many customers as possible if problems occur or during times of planned maintenance.
Added flexibility to move power and keep customers in service is the main goal of the substation and power line planned for Appenzell. Schleicher said that electric reliability in the Appenzell area has deteriorated over the past several years, and a new substation and transmission line are examples of several initiatives by PPL Electric Utilities to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages.
The company will file plans for each new line with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for approval. PPL Electric Utilities hopes to have the substations and power lines in place by the fall of 2011.
For more information, call PPL Electric Utilities toll-free at 1-800-293-8995 or visit www.monroepowerproject.com.
These projects are part of a broader program of infrastructure improvements planned by PPL Electric Utilities to ensure reliable electric service for local customers and for the region.
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation that provides electricity delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. More information is available at www.pplelectric.com.