[Press Release] : City Council Work Session on Electric Transmission Route Alternatives

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Bill Watkins, City Manager - (573) 874-6338 or Toni Messina,
Director, Public Communications - (573) 874-7660 or Connie Kacprowicz,
Utility Services Specialist - (573) 874-7325
 
City Council Work Session on Electric Transmission Route Alternatives
 
COLUMBIA, MO (November 19, 2010) - A knowledge-builder. That’s what
City Manager Bill Watkins says local government should be as the
community learns more about a future City electric transmission project.
He invites citizens to attend a City Council work session on this
subject on Monday, Nov. 22, starting at 6 p.m. in the City Council
Chamber, 701 E. Broadway.
 
No decisions will be made at the Council work session. It’s at a very
early discussion stage, and more public meetings will be scheduled as
the learning process continues.
 
“While this project may take several years to plan and build, all of us
need to improve our knowledge and understanding,” Watkins said. “I know
that City Council members want more facts to share with citizens and to
prepare them for the decisions they will have to make.” Some of those
decisions relate to the following issues.
 
Need for more electric transmission service. Watkins says this is sound
planning to meet expected future demands for service. “Whether public,
private or member-owned, all electric utilities have a duty to serve
their customers. Every day, families, businesses, schools, hospitals and
organizations expect their lights and appliances to come on when they
flip a switch. I can’t imagine recruiting new residents or jobs without
being able to say we can meet their electric service needs.”
 
Project location. The southern part of Columbia is a more vulnerable
spot than other parts of the city, when it comes to electricity. “We
expect new growth north and east, and we have good connections and
capacity there, Watkins said. “But the southwest continues to grow and I
can’t, in good conscience, ignore that.”

Reliability. Watkins said that Columbia’s local electric system has
several geographic sectors, determined by the location of substations
and transmission lines. “What if a horrible ice storm, such as the one
that cut the power to thousands of customers in southwest Missouri
awhile back, happened here? If we lose capacity in two of our sectors
that are overloaded and vulnerable, we’re pretty much down.” Watkins
says that beefing up southern Columbia will minimize that risk.
 
Appearance. Some citizens advocate “under-grounding” the lines and
cables. “My Water & Light director might disagree,” Watkins said, “but
electric lines, by their nature, are not beautiful.” He said that he
understands citizens’ concerns about overhead lines and hopes
discussions will help sort out these issues for everyone. 
 
Route. The transmission line likely will cross neighborhoods,
commercial areas, roads and open areas, but no route has been selected
yet. “This is one of the most sensitive parts of utility planning,”
Watkins said. “Even while it brings great benefit, a 161kV line can
spread a lot of pain. We need to be especially attentive to what
citizens tell us and, if we have to purchase their land for
right-of-way, we must make sure the process is fair and transparent.”
 
Cost. Watkins said that it’s hard to have specifics at this stage, and
he wants citizens to feel that costs are based on facts. “There are a
lot of factors to consider,” he said, “including the chosen route, land
purchase costs, legal expenses, whether the line is overhead or
underground and future costs of labor and supplies.”
 
As is true for typical City Council work sessions, the public is
invited to attend and listen to the discussion, but there will not be
give-and-take with the Council at this time. Public comments are being
collected and will be shared with Council members. Continuing
opportunities for citizens to voice their opinions will be scheduled.
 
The work session will be broadcast live on the City Channel (Mediacom
Ch. 80; Charter Ch. 2; CenturyLink Ch. 601). For more information, visit
GoColumbiaMo.com, and click on the transmission project link under
“Announcements.”
 
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Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

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