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current siting projects

The Phoenix metropolitan area continues to be a fast-growing urban area, with an ever-increasing demand for electricity. We’re developing power lines and siting new facilities to help meet this demand.

69kV project
69/12kV project

Arizona Public Service Company (APS) is in the process of determining a location for a new 69 kilovolt (kV) electric substation in downtown Phoenix.

Voltage: 69/12kV

Estimated completion date: Site location 2018, substation complete 2021

Location: Downtown Phoenix

project need

Ensure reliable and adequate power for the vibrant and growing downtown Phoenix community.

project description

The electric system serving downtown Phoenix is made up of multiple substations and power lines. These substations are located in residential and commercial areas. The loss of any one of the 69kV lines or substations may result in power outages in the area until repairs can be made. Outages are often a result of powerful storms in the area or even vehicle accidents. Adding new facilities will improve reliability and help ensure APS has adequate power available to meet the electrical needs in the vibrant and growing downtown area.

To maintain reliable electric service and accommodate future load growth, APS plans to add a few new substations in the downtown area over the next several years. APS’s initial and more immediate need is to acquire a one-acre property for a new substation in the area roughly defined as 7th Street to Central Ave, Fillmore Street to Moreland Street. This new substation will require new 69 kV power lines to connect into the existing electrical system currently serving the area. These power lines will connect the new substation to the existing 69 kV overhead power lines along Roosevelt Street.

your input is important to aps

An important component of this process is to gather input from residents, tenants, property owners, businesses, and community organizations within the study area. Three open houses were held on February 27th, March 9th and March 15th to allow members of the public and all interested parties to join APS, talk one-on-one about the need and benefits of the project, and provide input on potential sites for the project as well as architectural design elements.

Input gathered at the first set of meetings has been evaluated and analyzed. When developing alternatives APS evaluates many criteria including; environmental impacts, engineering and construction feasibility, land acquisition timing and costs, regulatory approvals, potential impacts to existing and planned neighborhoods and developments, and input from the public and agencies. Numerous sites have been evaluated and APS has now reduced the number of available options to two sites. APS plans to share this information with the public at an open house scheduled for October 10th from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the Roosevelt Community Church located at 924 N. 1st Street in downtown Phoenix. APS will share the latest information, discuss remaining alternatives, and receive further input and feedback from the public. APS will continue to meet with local jurisdictional leaders and affected stakeholders as the project progresses. APS anticipates having a final site selection towards the end of 2018.

public open house events

APS has scheduled its next public open house for October 10th from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the Roosevelt Community Church located at 924 N. 1st Street in downtown Phoenix. Local residents and stakeholders have been notified by mail of this important meeting where they can learn about the potential sites, our site selection process and provide valuable input on possible architectural designs. Please continue to check this web page for further information as the project moves forward.

project updates

Throughout the planning process, this webpage will be maintained with the latest information. Question or comments on the Project can be directed to Kendra Lee, APS Program Manager at 602-371-7872 or by email at downtown.substations@aps.com. We look forward to your feedback.

related documents

Potential Substation Sites

Architecture Elements Board for substation

Downtown Substation Open Houses Mailing

Open House #1 Display Boards

October Open House Mailing

project need

Connect the Perryville Substation to the Valencia Substation. Ensure a reliable power source for the future.

project description

The electric system serving the central Buckeye area is made up of multiple substations and power lines. These substations are located in residential and commercial areas. The loss of any one of the 69kV lines or substations may result in power outages in the area until repairs can be made. Outages are often a result of powerful storms in the area or even vehicle accidents. Adding new facilities will improve reliability and help ensure APS has adequate power available to meet the electrical needs in the area.

To maintain reliable electric service and accommodate future load growth, APS plans to add a new substation near 239th Avenue and Southern Avenue. This new substation will require new 69kV power lines to connect into the existing electrical system currently serving the area. These new power lines will connect the new substation with both the Perryville Substation, located at Jackrabbit Trail and Lower Buckeye Road, and the Valencia Substation, located at Miller Road and Maricopa Road. The resulting project will create a continuous 69kV line between the Perryville and Valencia substations, with an interconnection at the new substation.

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project planning

The new segments of the 69kV power line will be built on steel poles and will be either a single 69kV circuit configuration (three wires per circuit) or a double 69kV circuit configuration (six total wires on the same pole). The new 69kV power lines may be constructed in a new alignment or added in areas where some lines already exist. In most cases the existing facilities would be rebuilt on the new poles to consolidate structures. It is anticipated that any new poles would be approximately 65 feet in height. The line segments would require a right-of-way or easement approximately 30 to 40 feet in width to construct, operate, and maintain the facility. APS plans to have the first new 69kV power line (Valencia segment) in service by approximately late 2018.

In early 2017, APS hired Environmental Planning Group (EPG) to assist in evaluating route alternatives, to assess potential environmental impacts, and to support the public outreach process. Baseline information about land use, visual, biological, cultural, and recreational resources for the area has been collected. This information, along with engineering and construction studies performed by APS, was used to develop preliminary route alternatives within the study area.

When developing route alternatives, APS evaluates many criteria, including: environmental impacts, engineering and construction feasibility, land acquisition timing and costs, regulatory approvals, potential impacts to existing and planned neighborhoods, and input from agencies and the public.

Preliminary Routes, including eliminated segments

Initial briefings were held with representatives and officials from the City of Buckeye to inform them of the proposed project, and to solicit input. The public was notified of the project with our first newsletter mailing in March 2017 and a public open house on March 22, 2017. A second newsletter was mailed in July to announce the second public open house that was held August 2, 2017. At these meetings the public learned about the project need, how the siting process is carried out, and provided their input on possible line route locations. Throughout this process we have received numerous comments about the project through the web, mail, email, and by telephone.

All comments, input, and data gathered have been analyzed and evaluated and the results were used to identify potential power line routes. These potential routes were further evaluated using the siting criteria mentioned above and several different alternatives were carried forward for public input (see map below).

Route Segment Alternatives

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north peoria 69kV power line siting

voltage?	estimated completion date	location
69 kV	Phase 1 - 2021	North Peoria

project need

Build four new substations and interconnecting 69kV power lines

project description

Arizona Public Service Company (APS) is developing a plan to build new energy facilities to better serve the growing population in the northern region of Peoria. APS continually monitors its electrical system and, when necessary, adds or upgrades facilities. These improvements enhance reliability and help ensure that an adequate supply of electric power is available to customers.

To maintain reliable electric service and accommodate future load growth, APS has determined the need to build new substations and associated 69 kilovolt (kV) power lines in the North Peoria region, as shown within the study area on the map below. These facilities would generally be located within or adjacent to the new Vistancia North, Lake Pleasant Heights, and Saddleback Heights developments. A network of 69kV power lines would be constructed to bring power from existing substations and power lines near the east side of the study area and provide possible connections for new sources of power near the northwest side of the study area.

A total of four new substations and interconnecting 69kV power lines are included in this siting process. APS anticipates the first substation (Substation W03) and related 69kV lines to be in service in 2021, located near the Vistancia North and Lake Pleasant Heights developments (see Phase 1, Substation W03 Siting area on the map below). Although the remaining three substations and interconnecting lines are part of this siting effort, it is anticipated that these facilities would not need to be constructed for 5 to 10 (or more) years, based on current housing development projections.

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project planning

It is anticipated that the new segments of the 69kV power lines would be built on steel poles, with either a single 69kV circuit configuration or a double 69kV circuit configuration (three wires per circuit). The new 69kV power lines may be constructed in a new alignment or added in areas where lines already exist. In most cases, if there are existing facilities they would be rebuilt on the new poles to consolidate structures. It is anticipated that any new poles would be approximately 65 feet in height.

The line segments would require a right-of-way or easement approximately 40 to 60 feet in width to construct, operate, and maintain the facilities.

project map

north peoria siting map

siting process

APS has hired Environmental Planning Group (EPG) to assist in evaluating substation sites and route alternatives, to assess potential environmental impacts, and to support the public outreach process. Baseline information about land use, visual, biological, cultural, and recreational resources for the area will be collected. This information will be used to develop preliminary power line route and substation location alternatives within the study area.

When developing alternatives, APS evaluates many criteria, including: environmental impacts, engineering and construction feasibility, land acquisition timing and costs, regulatory approvals, potential impacts to existing and planned neighborhoods, and input from agencies, developers and the public. The work completed thus far has included initial data collection of existing and planned land uses.

Initial briefings were held with representatives and officials from local, state, and federal agencies, including the City of Peoria, to inform them of the proposed project, and to solicit input. The public was notified of the project with our first newsletter mailing in April 2018 and the first set of public open houses was held on May 3rd and 8th, 2018. Those who attended either open house learned about the project need, how the siting process is carried out, had the opportunity to ask questions and speak about concerns, and were able to provide input on potential line route locations.

public input is important

An important component of this siting process is to gather input from residents, tenants, property owners, and businesses within the study area. APS and EPG are currently reviewing comments and input received via email, postal mail, project web page, voice messages, and at the open houses. These comments as well as an evaluation of environmental factors, engineering and constructability, and other data will help to develop the preliminary alternative power line routes and substation locations.

APS will prepare and distribute a second newsletter to the public announcing project updates and notifying a second round of open houses, expected to be held in late summer of 2018. Preliminary alternative routes and substation locations will be presented at the open houses, and the opportunity for further public comment and input will be available at that time.

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project updates

Throughout the planning process, this webpage will be maintained with the latest information. Comments can be submitted directly through the comment form or to Stephen Eich, APS Siting Consultant, at NorthPeoriaSiting@apsc.com. Comments also can be provided by phone at 1 (888) 352-4365.

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