The new Elm Creek substation, southeast of Concordia, Kansas, marks the northern end of the Elm Creek-Summit transmission line.
The new Elm Creek substation, southeast of Concordia, Kansas, marks the northern end of the Elm Creek-Summit transmission line.
The new Elm Creek substation, southeast of Concordia, Kansas, marks the northern end of the Elm Creek-Summit transmission line.
The new Elm Creek substation, southeast of Concordia, Kansas, marks the northern end of the Elm Creek-Summit transmission line.
The new Elm Creek substation, southeast of Concordia, Kansas, marks the northern end of the Elm Creek-Summit transmission line.

ITC Great Plains Energizes Elm Creek-Summit Transmission Line

Dec. 13, 2016
The 60-mile, 345,000-volt (345kV) transmission line links the existing 345kV Summit substation southeast of Salina, Kansas.

ITC Great Plains, in conjunction with Mid-Kansas Electric Company (MKEC), has placed the Elm Creek-Summit high-voltage electric transmission line and the Elm Creek substation into service in central Kansas. The 60-mile, 345,000-volt (345kV) transmission line links the existing 345kV Summit substation southeast of Salina, Kansas to the new 345kV Elm Creek substation southeast of Concordia, Kansas.

ITC’s portion of the line, which is co-owned with MKEC, spans approximately 30 miles comprising the northern section of the project. Westar Energy constructed, owns, and operates the southern section of approximately 30 miles. The line is designed to improve the reliability of the transmission grid, reduce congestion, enable energy developers to tap into the transmission grid and promote economic development in the region.

“The completion of the Elm Creek-Summit project demonstrates ITC’s ongoing commitment to helping Kansas and the region modernize and expand critical energy infrastructure,” said Brett Leopold, president of ITC Great Plains. “This project reinforces the value that ITC brings to the region as a transmission owner and operator by providing much-needed transmission investment across the Southwest Power Pool footprint. Customers benefit from an efficient, reliable grid that provides access to a variety of energy resources.”

ITC’s investment in high-voltage infrastructure in the Southwest Power Pool region is founded upon open access to the grid and collaboration with energy stakeholders to develop a transmission system that meets the current demands and evolving needs of the future. It is through ITC’s relationship with MKEC and other Kansas utilities that the Elm Creek-Summit project came to fruition, an important stride in the development of a regional and versatile transmission system.

“Mid-Kansas supports projects that help us continue our mission of providing our Members and the thousands of Kansans they serve with reliable energy at the lowest possible cost,” said Stuart Lowry, president and CEO of Mid-Kansas. “Mid-Kansas is proud to work with ITC on yet another high-voltage transmission project that will enhance electric service in the region and beyond for generations to come.”

About the Elm Creek-Summit Transmission Line
The Elm Creek to Summit Project is a new 60-mile, 345,000-volt (345 kV) line linking the existing 345 kV Summit Substation southeast of Salina, Kansas, to a new 345 kV substation southeast of Concordia, Kansas, located near the existing 230 kV Elm Creek Substation. ITC Great Plains, LLC, under a co-development agreement with Mid-Kansas Electric Company, LLC, constructed, co-owns with MKEC, and operates the northern section of the line. Westar Energy (Westar) constructed, owns, and operates the southern section.

Project Fast Facts:
Line length: Approximately 60 miles
Line route: From a new substation adjacent to the ITC Elm Creek substation southeast of Concordia in Cloud County to a point near Justice Road, east of Wells, in Ottawa County.
Voltage: 345,000 (345kV)
Right-of-way width: 200 feet
Structure type: Steel monopole, single-circuit
Structure height: 120 – 160 feet
Distance between structures: 800 – 1,500 feet
Structures per mile: Typically six
Substation: Elm Creek

Key Project Dates & Timeline:
Fall 2012 – Preliminary routing & community outreach
December 2012 – Public Open House events in Miltonvale, Bennington & Salina
Q1-Q2 2013 – Route selection & refined cost estimate; Southwest Power Pool review & approval
May 2013 – Route application filed with the Kansas Corporation Commission
August 2013 – KCC route approval
Q4 2013-2015 – Right-of-way acquisition
2014-2015 – Engineering design
2015-2016 – Project construction
December 7, 2016 – Project completion date
2018 – SPP required in-service date

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