Final Decision Issued
On March 13, 2024 the Commission issued a final decision for this project. At the time of the final decision construction was anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with completion by the third quarter of 2026. Relocation of the 3-phase distribution line and removal of the existing poles will be completed concurrently with installation of the new transmission line. The existing substations will be removed after the new transmission line and new substations are in service.
Quarterly construction updates and post decision correspondence between the Commission and the Applicant can be found in the corresponding docket reports.
Docket Reports: 4220-CE-186 Docket ID: 4220-CE-186
Application of Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin for a Certificate of Authority to Construct the Boot Lake to
Chain O Lakes 34.5 kV Transmission Line and Substation Project in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
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Application Summary
Overview: Northern States Power Company – Wisconsin, doing business as Xcel Energy, is proposing to construct a 34.5 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and two new 69 kV capable substations that would be connected by the new transmission line. The project transmission line would be approximately 15.1 miles long, and approximately 2.3 acres would be developed to host the proposed project substations. Multiple segments of existing non-contiguous transmission line along the proposed route would be removed and rebuilt in an underbuild design on the new transmission poles. Two existing 34.5 kV substations, the Rest Lake and Presque Isle substations, would be removed by the project.
Applicant stated need: The project is needed to resolve reliability limitations and operational issues. The reliability concerns are created by two factors:
(1) two radial transmission systems serving the area only deliver electricity in one direction, disallowing transfer of power to prevent outages, (2) the Presque Isle and Rest Lake substations are at the end of their usable life, have no land rights and could not easily accept a new transmission line. The proposed continuous transmission line would enable the system to transfer power from either direction, which would help to prevent outages.
Estimated cost: Xcel Energy has estimated that the project would cost approximately $32.6 million at the time of application.
Project Location: The Towns of Manitowish Waters, Winchester, and Presque Isle in Vilas County.
Proposed schedule:
- The application was submitted to the Commission on May 23, 2023.
- The proposed construction for this project is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2025; anticipated to be in-service in the third quarter of 2026.
Statutory Review
The proposed transmission line and substation construction project is a
Type III action under
Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 4.10(3). Type III actions normally do not require preparation of an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) under Wis. Admin. Code § PSC 4.10(3). However, an evaluation of a specific Type III proposal may indicate that the preparation of an EA is warranted for that proposal. The Commission will prepare an EA for this project that will evaluate the location of the project and its potential environmental, community, and private property impacts. There will be a preliminary determination when the EA is complete that will determine whether the preparation of an EIS is necessary. Comments on this preliminary determination will be accepted and considered before a final determination is made. At the time of the preliminary determination, the Commission shall make copies of the EA available to those persons that request it.
Key Application Documents
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Access Docket 4220-CE-186
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