Permian, Other Areas Drive $4 Billion in First-Quarter U.S. Transmission & Distribution Kickoffs

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Demand is growing for U.S. transmission and distribution (T&D) projects, particularly in areas like Texas' Permian Basin, where rapid industrial growth is putting stress on the electric grid. Industrial Info is tracking nearly $4 billion in active T&D projects that are set to begin construction in the U.S. in first-quarter 2019.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the top 10 U.S. states for T&D first-quarter kickoffs.

First-quarter T&D kickoffs span every region of the U.S., starting in the west, where Southern California Edison Company, a subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE:EIX) (Rosemead, California), is at work on sweeping upgrades and overhauls to a transmission system from El Dorado County, California, to Laughlin, Nevada. The 200-mile project involves installing an estimated $200 million double-circuit network of 500-kilovolt (kV) line in southern California, which would be supported by a $50 million upgrade to the Lugo Substation in Hesperia, California. Both of these projects are expected to wrap up in the summer of 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the transmission line and substation projects.

In Texas, American Electric Power Company (NYSE:AEP) (AEP) (Columbus, Ohio) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) are responding to a growing demand for energy supply in the Permian Basin with the Far West Texas Project, a new double-circuit, 345-kV line in Pecos County. The proposed line also will support more capacity for renewable generation in the region. Segments include:

• $52 million Fort Stockton-to-Barstow line, running 52 miles from the Solstice Substation to the Sand Lake Substation; see project report
• $52 million Barstow-to-Fort Stockton line, running 52 miles from the Sand Lake Substation to the Solstice Substation; see project report
• $52 million Fort Stockton-to-Bakersfield line, running 68 miles from the Solstice Substation to the Bakersfield Substation; see project report

AEP and LCRA also are preparing for a $10 million upgrade to the Solstice Substation in Fort Stockton, which will support the overhauled transmission line with a new transformer; see project report.

In Indiana, AEP is preparing to begin construction on its Powering Up Greater South Bend Program, which aims to improve reliability and add capacity in the northern area of the Hoosier State. The program, which AEP says "will improve service for customers, reduce power outages, and speed recovery of service if outages occur," includes a series of new substations, many of which will replace retiring substations:

• $10 million Muessel Substation in South Bend; see project report
• $10 million Vintage Substation in Lapaz; see project report
• $10 million Silver Lake Substation in Rolling Prairie; see project report
• $10 million Marquette Substation in La Porte; see project report
• $9 million Tulip Road Substation in South Bend; see project report
• $7 million Rapids Substation in South Bend; see project report

Each of these projects is projected to begin construction in January and wrap up in mid-summer 2019. In addition to the new substations, AEP is preparing for a $10 million rebuild of its Colfax Substation in South Bend, as well as a $5 million upgrade of its Quinn Substation in Lakeville and a $3 million expansion and upgrade of its Gravel Pit Substation in South Bend, each of which is operating on the same schedule. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Colfax, Quinn and Gravel Pit projects.

PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated (NYSE:BRK.A) (Omaha, Nebraska), is preparing to overhaul its Grant Pass-Lone Pine Transmission Line in Oregon, including $18 million in additions and conversions to the line that will switch it from single-circuit to double-circuit, and extend it to the proposed, $18 million Sams Valley Substation in Central Point, Oregon. PacifiCorp also expects to perform $1 million in expansions to the substation in Grants Pass, Oregon, all of which is slated to be completed in first-quarter 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the line, Sams Valley Substation and Grants Pass Substation.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/