North American Windpower: Xcel Energy To Make $33.6M In Transmission Upgrades In Texas

in News Departments > Projects & Contracts

by NAW Staff on Friday 19 October 2012

In an effort to boost grid reliability and capacity, Xcel Energy plans to upgrade the high-voltage transmission system in Amarillo, Texas.

Between now and the end of 2013, the utility will spend $33.6 million to complete projects that will add and update transmission facilities in north, east and south Amarillo - areas where the city is outgrowing the existing transmission infrastructure as electricity demand increases, the company notes.

The 2012-2013 transmission enhancement projects in Amarillo include the following:

North Amarillo. Load growth led the company to build the new Rolling Hills substation on Cherry Avenue, and to upgrade the capacity at the existing Hastings substation. In addition, a new 230 kV transmission line will link the two substations.

East Amarillo. To improve power flow into east Amarillo, an existing 69 kV line from East Plant substation on Northeast Third Avenue will be upgraded to 115 kV and connect to the upgraded Hastings substation.

South Amarillo. Upgrades to the Randall County substation southeast of the city will accommodate a new 230 kV line that will run southwest to the existing Amarillo South substation. Additionally, the company recently completed a rebuild of a 115 kV line running 58 miles from the Randall County substation to the Kress substation north of Plainview.

Beyond 2013, Xcel says additional transmission enhancements are being studied for the western edges of Amarillo.

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