Alliant Energy makes grid investments for equipment upgrades

Wisconsin Energy Grid Upgrades enhance reliability with new power poles, wires, transformers, and underground natural gas pipeline work. Crews across Beloit, Wisconsin Rapids, Prairie du Chien, and Sheboygan improve infrastructure, safety, and economic growth.

Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin customers will continue to have power they can count on after more major investments from Alliant Energy. In 2014, crews are adding more than $130 million in improvements to its energy grid in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin customers will see our crews working on the grid with similar system upgrades under way statewide today, from Beloit to Wisconsin Rapids, and from Prairie du Chien to Sheboygan,” said Linda Mattes – Vice President of Energy Delivery. “As crews get busy, especially this spring, we ask drivers to slow down and be aware of work areas.”

This year, work on the energy grid will include upgrading power poles, wires, and transformers in communities, along streets and in neighborhoods as part of broader smart grid improvements across the region today. Crews will also work on the part of the energy grid that includes underground natural gas pipelines.

“All of this equipment works together, and regional operators like MISO have implemented changes to prevent blackouts today, so the lights turn on when you flip the switch, and so your furnace has gas to heat your home,” said Mattes.

Wisconsin customers are seeing continuous improvement in the energy grid as Wisconsin utilities publish outage lists today. In 2013, for example, Alliant Energy crews added more than $130 million in upgrades.

In addition to making the system stronger, this work supports economic development, as seen with Santa Barbara grid upgrades attracting investment today. Businesses can expand or start construction quicker when the energy grid is ready for them.

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