Interstate Power And Light Company Successfully Completes Rebuild Of 345 kV Transmission Line

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, recently concluded rebuild work and re-energized a 20 mile stretch of 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Poweshiek County. The transmission line, which serves IPL customers throughout the company's service area, was severely damaged at 10:30 am on February 24, 2007 during a major Midwest winter storm.

As part of the rebuild project, IPL rebuilt 82 steel H-Frame transmission structures weighing a total of approximately 3.2 million pounds. With the assistance of helicopters, IPL strung nearly 160 miles of conductor and static wire, equivalent to the distance from Des Moines to the Quad Cities. IPL also installed approximately 300 insulators, which are used to attach the conductor to each of the transmission structures.

IPL completed the redesign and rebuild of the transmission line in less than five months. Rebuild projects of this magnitude typically require 18-30 months to design and construct. Up to 50 workers were on site, working seven days a week. The workers accumulated a total of over 45,000 worker-hours to complete the project as safely and quickly as possible. IPL's share of the cost of the rebuild project is approximately $10 million.

"The completion of the 345 kV transmission line in southeast Iowa was an awesome display of teamwork by our employees," says Vern Gebhart, vice president of IPL customer operations. "The February storms wreaked havoc on our electric system and the rebuild efforts were daunting. With the completion of the rebuild of this part of our transmission system, our ability to provide safe and reliable electric service to our customers throughout our service area has been greatly enhanced."

SOURCE: Interstate Power and Light Co.