Ameren wins regulatory nod for Illinois transmission line

Aug 22, 2013 - Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), part of US utility Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE), has received regulatory nod to build most of its planned 400-mile (644-km) Illinois Rivers transmission line project.

The consent was granted by Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Ameren said on Wednesday, explaining that the project will open new jobs, enable the addition of fresh renewable energy capacity and enhance the efficiency of the local power grid.

Ameren's USD-1.1-billion (EUR 822m) project envisages the construction of a 345-kV transmission line from Quincy, western Illinois, to the eastern part of the state and its border with Indiana. The ICC has given its consent to all but two segments of the project due to insufficient time and evidence to assess the most cost-effective route of the transmission line. Also, only three of nine proposed bulk substations were greenlighted. The developer will seek a rehearing on the routing of the two segments and the location and need for the substations that were not approved.

Ameren will immediately start acquiring land, with construction works planned to start next year.

The project has already been greenlighted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.747)

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