Xcel Energy Completes New Transmission Line In North Amarillo, US

Xcel Energy has completed the construction of a new high-voltage electric transmission line in north Amarillo, Texas, US, as part of a project to upgrade the city’s high-voltage electricity transmission system.

Established at a cost of $21.3M, the new 115kV line runs six miles between the Rolling Hills Substation on Cherry Avenue south to the Hastings Substation near Hastings Avenue and Broadway Drive.

Xcel Energy company Southwestern Public Service Company president and CEO David Hudson said the project along with the other Amarillo transmission enhancements, helps prevent and minimize outages by providing alternate routes for power to flow in the case of outages on the network.

"These lines also boost the capacity of the system, which helps us meet the growing demand for electricity in north Amarillo and around the entire city," Hudson added.

Xcel Energy had completed a 115kV transmission line in April 2013 in south Amarillo, which connects the Amarillo South Substation to the Randall County Substation.

Approximately $20.1M was invested by the company in that project, while work on a third project connecting Hastings to East Plant Substation in east Amarillo, is scheduled to commence in January 2015 and finish six months later.

Additional studies are also under way for transmission enhancements in southwest Amarillo, where the company is adding new customers.