Northeast Wisconsin
Zone 4
Transmission system characteristics in Zone 4
ATC delivers power in Zone 4 with various transmission facilities including:
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Four 345-kV lines extending from the Point Beach Nuclear Plant,
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Two 345-kV lines extending from the Edgewater Power Plant,
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Four 345-kV lines connecting the Gardner Park, Werner West, Morgan, and Plains Substations,
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Two 345-kV lines from North Appleton to Werner West and Fitzgerald,
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Three 345-kV lines connecting South Fond du Lac Substation to the Columbia, Edgewater and Fitzgerald Substations, and
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A 138-kV network in the Fox River Valley/Green Bay area.
Transmission system limitations in Zone 4
In our analysis of Zone 4 we identified potential high voltages in the Outagamie and Calumet County areas and low voltages in the Brown County area. In addition, other studies occurring in parallel with this Assessment, including Northern Area Reliability Assessment, have identified several voltage and thermal limitations. The most severe limitations occur during the off-peak periods. See the Zone 2 section for a summary of a preliminary preferred alternative.
Electric system overview
Increases expected in population, employment – Population in Zone 4 is projected to grow 0.8 percent annually between now and 2023. Brown County is expected to realize the largest increase in population. Employment is projected to grow 1.0 percent annually in the same time period, with the largest increase projected in Brown County.
Electricity usage growing
Peak electric demand typically occurs during the summer months, although the northern portion of Zone 4 typically experiences nearly equal summer and winter peaks. Paper mills and foundries in the Green Bay and Appleton metropolitan areas are some of the largest electricity users in the zone.
Electric load is forecasted to grow at approximately 0.4 percent annually through 2024. Also, locally generated electricity is declining in the area with smaller, coal-fired generators most at risk. This includes generation owned by industries, municipalities and utilities.
Transmission projects in Zone 4
The most notable planned, proposed and provisional network projects and asset renewal projects in Zone 4, along with their projected year of completion and the factors driving the need for the projects, are listed below.
Zone 4 includes the counties of:
- Brown , WI
- Calumet , WI
- Dodge (NE) , WI
- Door , WI
- Fond Du Lac (E) , WI
- Kewaunee , WI
- Manitowoc , WI
- Marinette (S) , WI
- Menominee (S) , MI
- Menominee , WI
- Oconto , WI
- Outagamie , WI
- Shawano (E) , WI
- Sheboygan , WI
- Winnebago (E) , WI
Zone 4 Planned Projects
| Project Description | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|
| Pulliam - Glory Road 138-kV line conversion | 2016 | Overloads and low voltages |
Zone 4 Proposed Projects
| Project Description | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|
| Branch River 345-kV Substation construction | 2018 | Accommodate new generation |
| Ogden St. - Bayshore 69-kV line construction | 2018 | Provide network service |
| Bay Lake: North Appleton-Morgan 345-kV and 138-kV line construction | 2019 | Overloads and low voltages |
Zone 4 Provisional Projects
| Project Description | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|
| Shoto-Custer 138-kV line | 2022 | Overloads |
Zone 4 Asset Renewal Projects
| Project Description | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|
| Dyckesville u2013 Sawyer 69-kV line rebuild | 2016 | Condition and performance |
| North Appleton-Butte des Morts 138-kV line rebuild | 2017 | Condition and performance |