Wisconsin PSC approves 23 mile, 138,000-volt transmission line

The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin approved a new transmission line project on Wednesday between the the town of Salem and the city of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

“With input from the public, our project team evaluated more than 200 miles of route segments during the routing and siting process,” ATC Project Manager Doug Berton said. “That thorough review led to a project and decision by the PSC that will provide a significant improvement in the electric reliability of the transmission system that serves the area and supports the economic growth that’s been increasing over the last several years.”

A new substation, called Balsam, was announced in early 2013 and located on the north side of County Highway 50 in the town of Wheatland. The project includes a new 23 mile, 138,000-volt transmission line from the existing North Lake Geneva Substation in southern Walworth County to the existing Spring Valley Substation in western Kenosha County.

The project is slated to cost approximately $70.6 million. The PSC’s final order for the project is anticipated by the end of March. Construction will begin in summer 2017, with service to begin in summer 2019.