Ameren Missouri has begun construction on upgrades to its Moscow Mills substation in Lincoln County, Missouri, to address increasing electricity demand and support service reliability.

The existing substation transformer was installed in the 1990s, when the community's population was about half its current size. The project includes two new, higher-capacity transformers designed to better serve local homes and businesses during periods of high energy use. The new equipment will also provide greater flexibility to restore power following outages.

"Adding this equipment is similar to putting another lane on a highway to help relieve traffic congestion," said Ken Worland, director of Ameren Missouri's northeast Missouri division. "When everyone is using their air conditioners at the same time on a hot afternoon, it creates a lot of demand on the grid. This upgrade will allow energy to flow reliably when and where it is needed."

Crews will also upgrade other substation components designed to help restore service more quickly after outages. The equipment can automatically detect problems, isolate affected areas and reroute power to limit outage impacts. The upgrades are expected to provide these restoration benefits to approximately 2,300 customers in the Moscow Mills area.

Construction Information

Construction is underway near the existing substation on Hampel Road. Residents may see large trucks near the work site and experience periodic lane closures in the area. Ameren Missouri will notify customers of any temporary service impacts.

Construction is expected to be completed by September 2027.

The Moscow Mills project is part of Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan, an ongoing effort to modernize the electric grid. The company has upgraded more than 150 substations to address aging equipment, community growth and other factors that can affect electric service reliability.