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.
Electric load is forecasted to increase by approximately 0.2 percent annually through 2032. 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.
The recent installation of inductor banks in the western U.P. have successfully mitigated issues with high voltages during lighter load periods. ATC completed Zone 2 projects that provided new interconnection facilities at Huron and Silver River substations for the new J703 and J704 generation. These new Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generating plants are important power sources in the U.P. to meet local load demands after the recent retirement of the Presque Isle Power Plant.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic SS, 138/69-kV Bus Reconfiguration and Transformer Addition | 1 | 2022 | Operational Flexibility, Condition and Performance |
| Tilden SS, Control House Replacement and Breaker & Relay Asset Renewal | 2 | 2023 | Condition and Performance |
| Empire SS, Control House Replacement and Breaker & Relay Asset Renewal | 3 | 2024 | Condition and Performance |
| Winona–Atlantic 69kV (Winona69), rebuild | 4 | 2024 | Reliability |
| Marquette County Reactive Power Project | 5 | 2024 | Reliability |
| Munising Area Reactive Power Project | 6 | 2025 | Reliability |
| Pine Hy Tap – Pine Hy 69kV (ASPY31-1), Rebuild & OPGW | 7 | 2027 | Condition and Performance |
| North Lake SS, Transformer Asset Renewal | 8 | 2025 | Condition and Performance |
| Pine River - Mich Limestone Loading Dock 69 kV (ESE_6906), Rebuild | 9 | 2027 | Condition and Performance |
| Chandler-Delta 69 kV (Delta1 and Escanaba1), Partial Rebuild and OPGW | 10 | 2026 | Condition and Performance |
Zone 2 Proposed Projects
| Project Description | Project # | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A |
Zone 2 Provisional Projects
| Project Description | Project # | In-service year | Need driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perch Lake - National 138kV (468) Partial Retirement Project | 11 | 2024 | Reliability |
| Cornell Tap - Watson Tap 69kV (Chandler), Partial Rebuild | 12 | 2026 | Condition and Performance |