Project Updates

An open house is set for June 8 to introduce local officials and residents to a project planned to improve electric reliability in the Sparta and Tomah areas. We plan to rebuild the 17-mile transmission line between the Monroe County and Council Creek substations. The project will involve replacing the poles and wires on the 69-kilovolt line and adding a 161-kV circuit on new steel poles. A new substation also is planned. The project is being coordinated with Dairyland Power Cooperative, Xcel Energy, Alliant Energy and Oakdale Electric Cooperative.

We also are hosting open houses June 9 and 10 in Michigan to announce a project to rebuild 25 miles of an aging power line north of St. Ignace. The Straits-Pine River line was built in the 1930s and is reaching capacity. While construction won’t start until 2012, much of the line crosses the Hiawatha National Forest. Our special-use permit from the U.S. Forest Service needs to be amended, and the agency is beginning to undertake an environmental study for the project.

Did you know?

We captured a Business Friend of the Environment Award from the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. The award recognizes our “willingness to go beyond the regulatory requirements by seeking out and implementing a cost-effective, environmentally conscientious method for protecting the Bear Creek Marsh” near Stevens Point during a recent power line construction project. ATC worked closely with several vendors to develop an engineered “air bridge” system of construction mats to protect a massive wetland complex from heavy construction equipment. The air bridge had engineered, certified load ratings and essentially floated on the vegetative layer, rising and falling with water levels. Impacts to the wetland were minimal.

Crystal Koles (center), environmental project manager, and Franc Fennessy, (right), director of land management and stake holder affairs, accepted the Business Friend of the Environment Award from Jim Haney, president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

As part of the ongoing celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, employees in our Pewaukee office spent some time after work building bluebird and regular bird houses, which were then installed on the grounds. They also planted herbs, vegetables and flowers to brighten the patio off the lunchroom.

Customer Connections

Cascade software upgrade to version 3.31 is complete

The Cascade work management system was successfully upgraded over the weekend of May 21-23 and was available for access to users on Monday morning, May 24. About 170 field computers were returned to us to be upgraded or re-imaged with the new Cascade software system. All field units have been shipped back to users ahead of schedule; the last units were mailed on May 28. The Cascade system improvements will enhance overall system performance and eliminate the need for extended outages during future upgrades. We thank those involved in the upgrade for their cooperation and patience.

Interconnection Services resources

We have posted a new Transmission Interconnection Guide to our external Web site.  This new guide complements the Load Interconnection and Generator Interconnection Guides that are currently in use. Please use these three guides as a resource to understand the process and requirements for interconnecting to our transmission system. We look forward to working with you collaboratively to support new or modified load, generation or transmission interconnections.

ATC Network Customer Meetings will occur from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the dates listed below.  A teleconference option will also be available for those unable to attend in person.

Thursday, Aug. 12 – De Pere, Wis.

Thursday, Dec. 9  – Pewaukee, Wis.

ATC in the Community

We sponsored “Party for the Planet” at the Milwaukee County Zoo last month. More than 16,000 zoo visitors were able to learn about conservation, polar bears, bird banding and participate in crafts. Smokey the Bear also was on hand giving out fire-safety tips. Last year, Smokey seemed to overshadow our booth  – we give away seed packets, temporary butterfly tattoos and bookmarks on endangered species – so Sue Sawall, one of our employee volunteers, made herself a purple coneflower costume to attract more attention. It worked!

Sharon and William Walbrun of Waukesha were delighted to accept a packet of coneflower seeds from Sue Sawall.

We and our owner/customer Wisconsin Public Service sponsored a tree planting and other Arbor Day activities at the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh in April. The center teaches youth the importance of environmental stewardship and community involvement, and Arbor Day programs help spread awareness of the Paine’s collection of hundreds of tree and shrub varieties. Students gain an appreciation for trees and their significance in the environment through hands-on activities.

Invite an ATC representative to speak to your group

Let us tell you and your service group or professional organization more about ATC. Simply e-mail us at localrelations@atcllc.com and indicate a topic area you're interested in, such as new projects, environmental commitment, vegetation management or electric transmission. We'll work with you to schedule a speaker for an upcoming meeting.   

ATC is a Green Tier company, selected by the Wisconsin DNR for demonstrating superior environmental performance and continual improvement.