Smart Energy Plan project to support reliability in University City
Ameren Missouri to upgrade critical equipment damaged by historic flooding
On July 26, 2022, significant rainfall throughout the St. Louis region caused millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. In University City, the rainfall caused the River Des Peres to rise out of its banks and into the surrounding neighborhoods, flooding nearby homes and an Ameren substation on Waldron Avenue. According to the National Weather Service, this rainfall event was historic — the most prolific rainfall the metro area has seen since 1874.
In response to the flood damage, Ameren Missouri installed a temporary substation to restore power to approximately 2,700 customers in the area. Through its Smart Energy Plan, Ameren Missouri is replacing the temporary equipment with a new transformer and switchgear, in addition to building a floodwall around the upgraded substation to protect against future flooding. Both pieces of equipment are projected to serve the community and the surrounding areas for the next 50 years.
Crews work to set the new equipment at the upgraded substation in University City.
"Ameren Missouri is working diligently to provide reliable, resilient energy to the communities we serve," said Mark Birk, president of Ameren Missouri. "Thanks to the Smart Energy Plan, modernization projects like this substation upgrade in University City are an investment in reliable electric service to meet the needs of today and into the future."
The Smart Energy Plan was enabled by the Missouri Legislature's passage of Senate Bill 564 in 2018 and approved for extension and expansion by the General Assembly in 2022. Through the Smart Energy Plan, Ameren Missouri is working to upgrade and modernize the electrical grid, while also improving reliability throughout its service territory.
Since the start of the Smart Energy Plan in 2018, Ameren Missouri has invested in upgrades to more than 100 substations throughout its service territory. The equipment upgrades at its Waldron substation are expected to be in-service before the end of the summer. To learn more about the Smart Energy Plan, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.