Wheat Belt Public Power District has recently completed the replacement of a six-mile section of double-circuit power line originally constructed in the early 1940s during World War II. While the line had served the district reliably for decades, plans for replacement had been underway for some time as part of Wheat Belt’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and dependable electric system.

The upper circuits of the line consist of 34.5 kV sub-transmission, which primarily serves the Vo-Tech Substation and also functions as a critical link for transferring load between substations. The new switch configuration provides multiple feeds to the Vo-Tech Substation, allowing continued service while maintenance is performed on other feeds, significantly improving operational flexibility and reliability.

The project was also designed with future system improvements in mind. The new construction will support the planned replacement of an additional five miles of aging infrastructure originating from the Sidney WAPA Substation. The underbuild portion of the line operates at 7,200/12,470 volts and serves the Vo-Tech East Circuit, enhancing reliability and enabling future expansion to better serve customers east of the substation.

Additionally, the upgraded line allows Wheat Belt to interconnect with existing feeds from both the Colton Substation and the South Sidney Substation, further strengthening system resilience. Wheat Belt Public Power District will continue investing in infrastructure upgrades to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-quality electric service to our customers.

By: Rollie Waite, Operations Manager