Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin
Zone 2
Transmission system limitations in Zone 2
There are several potential transmission system performance issues in Zone 2, including limited ability to import or export power, potential generator instability, and low and high system voltages. Potential overloads that are a result of multiple contingency planning events will continue to be monitored. The most severe limitations are expected to occur during both peak and off‑peak periods.
Electricity usage
Zone 2 typically experiences peak electric demand during both the summer and winter months. Ore mining and paper mills are the largest electricity users in the zone.
Electrical load forecast in the Upper Peninsula has historically been less than 1% per year. Also, locally generated electricity has declined in recent years. This includes generation owned by industry, municipalities and utilities.
Transmission projects in Zone 2
The most notable planned, proposed, and provisional network / asset-renewal projects in Zone 2 are listed below – along with their projected year of completion and the factors driving the need for the projects.
One of the most notable recently completed projects includes the Winona – Atlantic 69 kV line rebuild, which helps to support reliability in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Multiple future projects are currently in development to improve voltage performance in the Marquette and Munising areas. These projects will further improve the reliability in the Upper Peninsula following the changes to the area’s generation profile in the past 5 years.
Zone 2 includes the counties of:
- Alger , Mich.
- Baraga , Mich.
- Chippewa , Mich.
- Delta , Mich.
- Dickinson , Mich.
- Florence , Wis.
- Forest (N) , Wis.
- Gogebic (E) , Mich.
- Houghton , Mich.
- Iron , Mich.
- Keweenaw , Mich.
- Luce , Mich.
- Mackinac , Mich.
- Marinette (N) , Wis.
- Marquette , Mich.
- Menonminee (N) , Mich.
- Ontonagon (E) , Mich.
- Schoolcraft , Mich.
- Vilas (N) , Wis.
Zone 2 Planned Projects
| Project Description | Project # | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette County Reactive Power Project | 1 | 2025 | Reliability |
| North Lake SS, Transformer Asset Renewal | 2 | 2025 | Condition and Performance |
| Tilden SS, Control House Replacement and Breaker & Relay Asset Renewal | 3 | 2026 | Condition and Performance |
| Munising Area Reactive Power Project | 4 | 2026 | Reliability |
| Pine River – Mich Limestone Loading Dock 69-kV (ESE_6906), Rebuild | 5 | 2027 | Condition and Performance |
Zone 2 Proposed Projects
| Project Description | Project # | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler – Delta 69-kV (Delta1), Rebuild and OPGW | 6 | 2026 | Condition and Performance |
| Empire Mine – Huron 138-kV (X-119), OPGW Addition | 7 | 2027 | Communication |
| Cornell Tap – Watson Tap 69-kV (Chandler), Partial Rebuild | 8 | 2028 | Condition and Performance |
Zone 2 Provisional Projects
| Project Description | Project # | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watersmeet – Land O Lakes 69-kV (6530), Rebuild | 9 | 2028 | Condition and Performance |
| Silver River – North Lake 138-kV (NLKG31), Rebuild | 10 | 2029 | Condition and Performance |
| 9 Mile SW STA – Pine River 69-kV (6921/23), Line Rebuild | 11 | 2028 | Condition and Performance |