Smart Energy Plan upgrades powering increased reliability in Jefferson County
Upgraded substation supporting existing customers and future growth in the area
Upgrades to an existing substation in Jefferson County are supporting increased reliability for customers in the surrounding communities. The Plattin substation, located south of Festus, has been operating at or near full capacity due to its existing transformers, which have been in service since the 1960s and 70s. Particularly during the cold winter months, these factors increased the potential for overloading and outages at the substation.
Crews work to set one of the new transformers at the Plattin substation in Jefferson County.
To address this issue and ensure customers in the area continue to have access to reliable electricity, the aging transformers at the Plattin substation were recently replaced with new units to better handle the community's electricity needs, while providing room for additional load growth in the future. These upgrades will benefit 2,700 customers in southern Jefferson County, including nearby schools, and were placed into service in early May. “We know our customers expect and depend on reliable service,” said Jay Garrett, Meramec division senior manager for Ameren Missouri. “Smart Energy Plan projects like this allow us to address aging equipment and modernize and strengthen the electric grid throughout our service territory.
Not only do these upgrades benefit the surrounding area, but they also help power the state's economic engine. The transformers installed at the Plattin substation were produced and manufactured by WEG Transformers USA in Washington, Missouri. This partnership continues Ameren Missouri's commitment to support local communities by using Missouri-based suppliers
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. To learn more about the Smart Energy Plan, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.