Ameren Missouri finished more than 300 grid reliability projects by June

This year, Ameren Missouri hit the ground running with reliability efforts, completing more than 300 Smart Energy Plan projects in the first half of 2022 and deploying replacements and upgrades throughout its service area.

Meant to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages, these improvements included smart switches, new pad-mounted transformers, and other grid upgrades. Smart switches assist utilities by isolating damage and rerouting power to as many customers as possible, even while repairs proceed. The new transformers replaced older rural substations to improve grid flexibility and reliability.

These updates were already put through their first test, as well, given the major storms that hit the region on June 17, 2022. Ameren estimated that nearly 9,500 customers across the St. Louis area benefited from reduced outages thanks to the new technologies.

“Customers want a strong and reliable energy grid. Every Smart Energy Plan project completed strengthens the energy grid,” Mark Birk, president of Ameren Missouri, said. “When we have a strong grid, it means the lights come on when you flip the switch. It means customers have the power they need when they need it.”

All deployments are part of the company’s larger Smart Energy Plan. It calls for the deployment of smart meters, a greater pivot to solar energy, and infrastructure updates to assist Missouri’s economic growth and power reliability. To date, Ameren Missouri reported that it has deployed approximately 566,000 smart meters, as a result, built or upgraded 52 substations, and modernized 138 miles of power lines.