Indiana Michigan Power to upgrade electric grid in Muncie

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will invest roughly $9 million to upgrade the electric transmission grid in Delaware County, Ind.

The Kenmore Substation Underground Connection Project involves the construction of a 69-kilovolt underground transmission line in Muncie that will run about a half-mile from the Kenmore Substation to existing above-ground transmission lines.

While I&M rarely places transmission lines underground, the growth in the area makes it difficult to replace the overhead line. The underground line is the most cost-effective alternative for ensuring reliable service to the area.

Company officials will inform individual property owners about what to expect before, during, and after construction.

Due to social distancing recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I&M and its contractors are limiting in-person visits with property owners.

Construction is expected to begin at the beginning of 2021. It should be completed in early 2022. More details can be found on I&M’s web site at IndianaMichiganPower.com/KenmoreUnderground.

Indiana Michigan Power, based in Fort Wayne, Ind., serves nearly 600,000 customers. More than two-thirds of the energy it delivered in 2019 was emission-free. I&M produces 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states, and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.