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Smart Grid Technology to Improve Service Dependability in Southeast Missouri
LILBOURN,MO -- Ameren Missouri is installing smart grid technology near Lilbourn that will improve service dependability for residents of several communities and two large agricultural businesses in New Madrid County.
Work began in late March on the installation of a new 34,000-volt sub-transmission line and three automated smart switches just north of Lilbourn. The new smart equipment, which will replace a switching station built during the 1950s, will allow Ameren Missouri to remotely assess outages and restore power more quickly to more than 1,675 customers in Catron, Lilbourn, Matthews, Parma and Risco.
Cargill, Inc. and Pioneer Hi-Bred are among the New Madrid County businesses that also will benefit from the $450,000 upgrade.
"Smart grid technology helps us ensure more dependable service for customers," said Bob Dixon, director of the Ameren Missouri Southeast Missouri Division. "Once this project is finished, we'll have remote access throughout our northwestern New Madrid County service area."
The Lilbourn project is scheduled to be completed this summer. It is one of a number of improvements Ameren Missouri has been making recently to the area's aging power infrastructure. Other reliable energy investments in Southeast Missouri include a $6.68 million upgrade of the Hayti substations, as well as the construction of new substations and new transmission and distribution lines serving the region.