MidAmerican Energy Co. completes construction on new transmission line in Iowa

MidAmerican Energy Co. has completed construction of a transmission line in northwest Iowa to help create a more reliable energy grid.

The high-voltage transmission line spans portions of Clay, Humboldt, Kossuth, O’Brien, Palo Alto and Webster counties.

“By updating the energy grid, we can better serve our customers,” said Steve Ambrose, project manager, high-voltage transmission, for MidAmerican Energy.

“Over the years the population and energy needs have grown and so have our needs for reliability. Bigger houses, more technology and more appliances have led to increases in energy use. By building new transmission lines, we can meet these demands and provide more reliable service to customers. A smarter energy grid will also carry and deliver more wind energy through Iowa and, ultimately, to our customers,” he said.

The transmission line runs 120 miles and carries 345 kilovolts of electricity. The transmission line project was part of the Transmission Expansion Plan approved in 2011 by the Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator Inc.

In addition to the most recent transmission line project, MidAmerican Energy is working on a 27-mile line through Appanoose, Davis and Wapello counties, and a 33-mile transmission line that will cross through Henry, Knox, Mercer and Rock Island counties. Those projects are scheduled to be completed by mid-2017 or mid-2018.