Smart Energy Plan upgrades to support reliability at St. Louis Zoo

Upgrades aim to harden the electric grid, making it more resilient and reliable

Ameren Missouri announces it is nearing completion of a Smart Energy Plan project designed to support greater reliability for more than 9,000 customers in St. Louis' Dogtown neighborhood. The project involves multiple infrastructure upgrades designed to harden the area's electric grid, making it more resilient and reliable during storms, such as the May 16 tornado that touched down in Forest Park. Among the customers supported by these upgrades is the St. Louis Zoo.

Crews work to install the new upgrades in St. Louis' Dogtown neighborhood.

“We understand reliability is vital for everyone, whether we’re talking about local residents and business owners or a premiere cultural institution,” said Tommie Bugett, director of Ameren Missouri’s North Metro Operating Center. “Our goal with this project is to reduce the impact of severe weather and respond faster when outages do occur.”

The reliability project aims to improve several different aspects of the area's electric grid. It moves several sections of overhead power lines underground, which will help prevent outages from falling tree limbs. Crews replaced aging wooden power poles and added stronger composite poles, including a dual-layer composite pole known as a "super-storm pole," to support reliability on the remaining overhead lines.

Additionally, crews installed a Viper Recloser as part of the project. This device, often referred to as a smart switch, can automatically detect outages and reroute power through another source to help keep the lights on during a storm. Since Ameren Missouri began installing these devices, smart switches have helped prevent numerous customer outages during major storms.

“The Saint Louis Zoo needs consistent and reliable power to ensure the well-being of our animals and the enjoyment of millions of visitors from around the world," explained Andrew Marti, director of facilities management at the Saint Louis Zoo. "Any disruption can have a significant impact on our climate-controlled habitats, critical veterinary care and the overall guest experience. We’re pleased to see Ameren Missouri working to make sure these operations remain uninterrupted.”

Ameren Missouri plans to have the upgraded lines in service this summer. The upgrades are part of Ameren Missouri's broader efforts to modernize the energy grid and support improved reliability for its electric customers. To learn more about these efforts, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/SmartEnergyPlan.