The Council has spent eight years trying to avoid accountability for its decision to “pause” a much needed transmission line project which was on time and on budget when paused. Now that issue is coming back before the Council, as is detailed in this article from the Columbia Missourian.

It will come as no surprise to readers of this blog that, of the options studied, the most cost-effective route and the route that provides the most reliable service to customers is very similar to the route of the “paused” line. In fact the alternate options that the Council asked be considered were projected to be $8 to $12 million higher than the route recommended by Staff.

Staff advised Council that new transmission infrastructure was needed in 2007. That need only grew as the new infrastructure was planned for and approved by the voters. That needed infrastructure would have been completed and in place now if not for Council’s interference. Instead, as a result of the pause, load shedding (i.e. black-outs has become our electric system’s official contingency plan for meeting federal regulatory requirements. This puts us all at risk.

[*Note: You can compare the 2016 Annual Planning Assessment with the 2023 Annual Planning Assessment to see the growing risk. Note that the blacked out material indicates a system vulnerability. The Mill Creek substation and related transmission line project paused by the Council was designed to address these issues so we would not need to rely on electric service interruptions to meet federal requirements.]

As the Director of Utilities recently stated, “. . . these improvements are necessary if shedding load is not an acceptable option for reliable service to customers. The transmission upgrades are needed now to ensure long-term reliability to customers.” And although these upgrades are needed now, and even if the Council were to act now, it could still take another 5 to 10 years to actually get another line in place due to the need to plan, acquire regulatory approvals, and then actually construct the line.

We also agree with the Director’s conclusion that “Upgrades should be initiated to reduce the potential that load shedding becomes a reality and to ensure system reliability is in place for the community.” If you too care about reliable electric service, urge your Council member to stop delaying, and allow Water & Light to proceed with its preferred option.