Attica Reliability Project

There is a section of the power line that runs parallel to East Sycamore Street. This line is located on the same set of utility poles as a second transmission line. Duke Energy needs to reroute a 3-mile section of one of the power lines to help improve electric reliability in Attica, increase the integrity of the line to minimize power outages to the local community, and improve safety conditions for Duke Energy lineworkers when work on the lines is needed.

The route is available for viewing on the project map above. Duke Energy project team members will also be available to discuss details of the project at a drop-in public meeting on April 11, 2024, at Attica Junior-Senior High School.

High-voltage transmission lines carry energy over long distances. The voltage is stepped down at facilities called substations. The energy is then carried by lower-voltage distribution lines to homes and businesses.

The route will be announced in summer 2024.

Depending on the new route location, new easements may need to be acquired. We estimate construction will begin in summer 2025 and be complete by December 2026.

You will receive a mailed letter from Duke Energy letting you know if your property is in the corridor for the selected route. This means survey work will follow to determine exactly where the line will go as well as pole placement. A land agent will contact you individually if an easement is needed on your property.

An easement is a legal agreement that gives Duke Energy the right to use – not own – specific portions of land for certain purposes. Easements get recorded on the property deed and remain in effect even after properties are sold to a new owner.

Easement area widths are expected to range from 70 feet if the transmission line is built along the road to 100 feet if the land is not roadside. We will work directly with property owners who are affected by easement acquisition.

The new poles will be made of self-supporting, galvanized steel.

Steel poles are more reliable than wood utility poles. They are better able to withstand higher winds during storms, which can mean fewer power outages. Steel poles have an improved design for lightning protection and require less maintenance and fewer inspections (therefore, less disturbance to neighborhoods).

The final design will determine which poles are used, but these poles range from 80 feet to 100 feet tall. The number of poles required for each new line will depend on the length and final route selected.

If there are trees that are close to power lines, we will need to trim or remove them so that they don’t come in contact or interfere with the operation of the transmission line or disrupt electric service to homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. Depending on the route that is chosen, vegetation may need to be removed.