2014

10-Year
Assessment

North Central Wisconsin
Zone 1

Transmission system characteristics in Zone 1

ATC delivers power in Zone 1 with various transmission facilities including:

  • East-west 345-kV line from Arpin Substation through Stevens Point extending to the Appleton area,
  • 345-kV line extending from Wausau to northeastern Minnesota,
  • 345-kV line extending from Wausau to Stevens Point to eastern Outagamie County (Highway 22),
  • 115-kV network in the northern portion of the zone, and
  • 138-kV and 69-kV network in the southern portion of the zone.
Transmission system limitations in Zone 1

Key system performance issues from this Assessment in Zone 1 include low voltages and thermal overloads in the southern portion of the zone. These issues will necessitate a combination of reinforcements. In addition, for the northern portion of the zone, other studies occurring in parallel with this Assessment, including the Northern Area Reliability Assessment, have identified several voltage and thermal limitations. The most severe limitations occur during off-peak periods. See the Zone 2 section for a summary of a preliminary preferred alternative.

Electric system overview

Slight increases expected in population and employment – Population in Zone 1 is projected to grow at 0.7 percent annually between now and 2023. Employment is projected to grow at 1.0 percent annually between now and 2023. Marathon County is projected to realize the largest increase in population and employment, while Adams County is projected to have the highest growth rate in population and employment.

Electricity usage

Peak electric demand typically occurs during the summer months, with some winter peaks appearing in the northern portion of the zone. Primary electricity users in Zone 1 include a number of large paper mills and food processing plants. Electric load is forecasted to grow approximately 0.5 percent annually through 2024.

Transmission projects in Zone 1

The most notable planned, proposed and provisional network projects and asset renewal projects in Zone 1, along with their projected year of completion and the factors driving the need for the projects, are listed below.

Zone 1 includes the counties of:
  • Adams , WI
  • Fond du Lac (NW) , WI
  • Forest (SW) , WI
  • Green Lake , WI
  • Juneau , WI
  • Langlade , WI
  • Lincoln , WI
  • Marathon , WI
  • Marquette , WI
  • Monroe (E) , WI
  • Oneida , WI
  • Portage , WI
  • Shawano (W) , WI
  • Vernon (E) , WI
  • Vilas (S) , WI
  • Washara , WI
  • Waupaca , WI
  • Winnebago (W) , WI
  • Wood , WI

Zone 1 Planned Projects

Project DescriptionIn-service yearNeed driver
Monroe County-Council Creek 161u2011kV line2015Low voltages, economics, avoid reconfiguration during emergencies

Zone 1 Proposed Projects

Project DescriptionIn-service yearNeed driver
Fairwater u2013 Mackford Prairie 69-kV line construction2018Network service, condition, overloads and low voltage
M13 Reinforcement Bunker Hill-Blackbrook2019Overloads and condition

Zone 1 Provisional Projects

Project DescriptionIn-service yearNeed driver
None

Zone 1 Asset Renewal Projects

Project DescriptionIn-service yearNeed driver
Monetello-Wautoma 69-kV line rebuild2016Condition and performance