American Electric Power’s Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) on Sept. 11 said that it plans to invest about $51m on the South Marion-North Frankton Transmission Line Rebuild Project to upgrade the electric transmission network serving customers in Grant and Madison counties in Indiana.
The project involves upgrading about 21 miles of 138-kV transmission line in the company’s existing right of way (ROW), I&M said, adding that the improvements help ensure electric reliability for customers, as well as support the area’s economic growth.
As noted in a project fact sheet, company representatives might need to acquire new easements or supplement current easements to ensure the safe construction, operation, and maintenance of the line.
The company said that its ROW representative for the project, Contract Land Staff, plans to communicate with directly involved landowners to discuss preliminary field work and supplementing current property easements. I&M noted that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the physical distancing recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the company and its contractors are limiting in-person visits with property owners during the process.
As noted in the project fact sheet, the project schedule calls for construction to occur in late 2021 to late 2023, with the facilities placed in service in early 2024.
