American Transmission Co.

ATC’s response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus has quickly changed our lives in many ways. We aim to keep one aspect of life the same for you – reliable electricity. As an energy company that owns and operates the electric grid in portions of the Upper Midwest, we commit to helping keep the lights on with our vast network of transmission lines and substations.

Our focus is on providing reliable energy and keeping our employees, contractors and the public safe.

Providing reliable energy

• We have taken steps to protect our facilities and maintain grid operations to continue providing reliable energy to our customers and communities.
• We have activated incident response and business continuity plans to ensure all employees are maintaining operational readiness.
• To ensure the continuity of our operations, construction and maintenance work is proceeding as scheduled.
• We are working closely with industry leaders, government officials and customers across our service area to coordinate pandemic planning and continuity of our operations.

Keeping individuals safe, informed

• We are following prescribed guidelines to help maintain the personal health and safety of our employees and contractors.
• To limit the amount of potential exposure, we have restricted access to ATC offices and implemented company-wide business travel restrictions.
• All ATC employees have a role in providing safe and reliable energy to the communities we serve, whether they are working remotely, onsite or in the field. We are maintaining communication with them as this event transpires so that we can keep them safe and informed while keeping the lights on for you.

We commit to aligning with trusted resources, such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to ensure our business practices support the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Most of all, we commit to doing all we can to be a trusted energy partner.

We will continue to provide updates as necessary. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact your ATC representative or call (866) 899-3204.

Plant a flower and make the world better place

Happy Plant a Flower Day – a day dedicated to planting flowers and looking forward to Spring. When planning what flowers to plant this year, consider adding some native plants to your landscaping.

There are lots of native plants that produce lovely flowers and provide food for bees, birds, butterflies and other pollinators. Planting several species like Columbine, Butterfly Weed, Lobelia, Wild Bergamot (aka Bee Balm) and Common Spiderwort throughout your garden will provide beautiful blooms in spring, summer and fall.

“With proper planning and minimal care, you can create a four-season garden, filled with birds and butterflies that’s good for you and the environment,” said Melinda Myers, nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, columnist and speaker. Since 2014, ATC has partnered with Myers to help landowners learn about compatible low-growing vegetation near transmission lines.

Need some information or inspiration? View or print our Grow Smart Planting Guide, or Grow Smart Pollinator Guide and bring it to your local garden center.

ATC featured in electricity education program on Into the Outdoors, an Emmy Award-winning broadcast, public and streaming TV series

American Transmission Co. employees, customers and partners are featured in an educational television program called “Electrifying Careers in Energy.” The program highlights four different aspects of the electric industry: Generating our Electricity, Decoding the Electrical Transmission System, Maintaining the Flow of Electrons, and Electricity and the World. ATC employees are the stars of the show, along with our partners from MJ Electric, Madison Gas & Electric, Kaukauna Utilities, Mequon Nature Center and Nelson Tree Service.

Accompanying classroom lessons were developed to meet National Common Core Standards appropriate for grades 6-12. The video program, educational content and classroom lessons are free to the public, especially students and teachers, to download and share at IntoTheOutdoors.org, and the show can be streamed on-demand on popular devices with the Into the Outdoors Entertainment and Educational Network app.

The show also will be rebroadcast on local television stations on March 14-15. Tell everyone you know!

Below are a few local airtimes and channels. Click here for more broadcast options.

• Green Bay: Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m., WFRV Ch 5 (CBS)
• Escanaba/Marquette, : Saturday, March 14, 12 p.m., WJMN Ch. 3 (CBS)
• Milwaukee: Sunday, March 15, 10:30 a.m., WITI TV 6 (Fox)
• Madison: Sunday, March 15, 10:30 a.m., WKOW TV 27 (ABC)

Nesting platforms help keep birds safe

Wisconsin has always been an important area for many bird species, many of whom will soon return here to breed, build nests and raise their young.

Although some birds may find our transmission structures attractive places to perch and nest, doing so can pose risks to the safety of the birds and compromise the reliability of the electric transmission system. We identify migratory paths and areas of heavy avian use to that we can consider steps to better protect birds and minimize potential impacts on our transmission equipment.

Some of the ways we do this include:

• Installing 200+ nesting platforms on or adjacent to our transmission structures or on poles nearby to enable eagles, herons and osprey to nest safely
• Installing flight diverters to increase visibility of our wires and help prevent bird collisions
• Replacing, reframing or retrofitting problematic transmission structures

Watch this video to learn more about our Avian Protection Program and how it supports our environmental commitment and the reliability of our electric transmission system.

Feed the birds – naturally

Happy National Bird Feeding Month. Did you know that bird feeding is the second most popular hobby in the United States (behind gardening)? More than 65 million Americans participate annually, according to a recent Census report.

One way to support our feathered friends without the upkeep of a bird feeder is to increase the native plants in your yard – giving birds seeds and cover in the cold winter months, and nectar in the warmer months for hummingbirds and other pollinators.

It may be cold outside, but this is a perfect time to think about adding bird, bee and butterfly-friendly plants to your garden and landscaping! View or print out our Grow Smart Pollinator Guide and bring it to your local garden center.