Dane County has experience tremendous growth in the past two decades. In fact, in some rural areas of the County, electricity usage is growing at a rate three to four times the statewide average. The electric transmission system requires upgrades and expansion to accommodate this increase in usage.

Proposed projects

Fitchburg-Verona electric system upgrade
The 69-kilovolt lines that serve the area currently are used to near-maximum capacity and cannot support the electricity needed for future growth. ATC is proposing a new 138-kV transmission line to connect a new substation in Fitchburg to an existing substation in Verona. More

Sun Valley Project
A new 69-kilovolt transmission line is needed to connect to a proposed Alliant Energy Substation in the vicinity of Fish Hatchery Road and County Hwy. CC in the town of Oregon. The proposed line would run south approximately 3 miles from from an existing 69-kilovolt transmission line located along Adams Road to the proposed substation site. More

Rockdale-West Middleton transmission line
A new 345-kilovolt line will be needed by 2013 to connect the Rockdale Substation located near Christiana with the West Middleton Substation. More

Project(s) under construction (or approved for construction)

North Madison-Waunakee (Huiskamp) system upgrade

Approved by PSC July 12, 2007   Read news release
A proposal for a new 138-kilovolt transmission line from the North Madison Substation in the Town of Vienna to the Huiskamp Substation in the Town of Westport is needed by 2008. More

Completed projects

Femrite-Sprecher transmission line project - In service spring 2007
ATC completed constructon of approximately four miles of new 138 kilovolt transmission line to connect the Sprecher Substation, located near the Sprecher Rd / CTH BB intersection, with Femrite Substation, located on Femrite Road near the I-90 / USH 12/18 interchange. More

Columbia-North Madison transmission line- completed May 2006

ATC has increased the voltage from 138 kilovolts to 345 kilovolts on an existing transmission line running from the North Madison Substation west of DeForest to the Columbia Substation located near Alliant's Columbia Power Plant outside of Portage. More

Future projects
Verona-Oregon rebuild
ATC plans to rebuild an existing 50-year-old, 11-mile, 69-kV transmission line from Verona to Oregon, which is electrically unstable during time of high demand on hot summer days. This rebuild will take place on the existing right-of-way. Tree clearing in some areas will be needed to ensure the safety and reliability of the line.

West Middleton-North Madison
A new 345-kilovolt transmission line between the West Middleton Substation and the North Madison Substation in the Town of Vienna will be proposed to reduce risk of widespread outages. The line is needed by 2015; a proposal is under development and will be introduced to the public in more detail in the future.

West Middleton-Blount Street Substation
A new 138-kilovolt transmission line from the West Middleton Substation to the Blount Street Substation will be needed to maintain adequate reliability of the system. The line is needed by 2015; a proposal is under development and will be introduced to the public in more detail in the future.

Wisconsin State Journal Editorial: Keep Power Line Plans on Track

Wisconsin State Journal publishes transmission line Q&A

For more information on projects in Dane County, e-mail Charlie Gonzales or call 1-866-899-3204, extension 3644, or Sarah Justus, extension 3624.