News Release
August 13, 2008
KCC Approves Transmission Line in Southeast Kansas
The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has approved a unanimous settlement agreement allowing the construction of a 345 kV (kilovolt) transmission line through the southeast corner of Kansas by KAMO Electric Cooperative, Inc. (KAMO) and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI). In its order, the Commission found that the proposed line will result in significant benefits for electric customers in Kansas and the region both now and into the future.
The agreement was reached through a collaborative process and agreed to by the KAMO, AECI, KCC Staff, Southwest Power Pool, Inc., Westar Energy, Inc., ITC Great Plains, LLC, and The Empire District Electric Company. The Commission expressed its appreciation for the collaborative effort of the many parties involved in this case.
The approximate 110-115 mile line will connect a 345 kV line owned by AECI near Japer, Missouri to the GRDA Unit 2 345 kV station located near Chouteau, Oklahoma. Only 25-30 miles of the line will be in Kansas, cutting across the extreme southeast corner of the state.
The construction of this additional transmission capacity will provide increased access to wholesale power markets, increasing wholesale competition and lowering electric generation production costs for Kansas. Increased access also will allow power plants in Kansas and the region to dispatch power more efficiently. The line is necessary to correct some existing reliability issues currently threatening electric service for AECI/KAMO customers in our neighboring states of Oklahoma and Missouri. Any service failure in those areas could impact Kansas as well.
The agreement also provides for dispute resolution and reporting requirements to the KCC as a means of verifying that the benefits to Kansas continue. Also it establishes a means to enhance regional transmission planning collaboration between KAMO, AECI and members of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), to address future congestion issues.
KAMO is a generation and transmission cooperative located in Vinita, Oklahoma that provides power to 17 distribution cooperatives in Missouri and Oklahoma. AECI is owned by KAMO, and five other generation and transmission cooperatives, to operate their transmission systems. KAMO will build, own and maintain the line, and AECI will operate it once completed.
Commissioner Joe Harkins dissented from the decision on jurisdictional grounds. He abstained from the vote to approve the Agreement.
Docket No. 08-KMOE-028-COC