Carmel Rohrer Road 12-kV Distribution Substation

Our goal at Duke Energy is to provide dependable power every day to the communities we serve. To keep that commitment, we're building a new 12-kilovolt (kV) distribution substation in Carmel, Ind. to add capacity for current and future electrical system demand and to adequately serve the community. The new substation will be fed by an existing 69-kV power line and provide a continuous, enhanced reliable flow of energy for you and your community. Our goal is to minimize impacts to nearby homes, businesses, the environment and cultural resources during construction.

Project Need

Based on current demand growth in this area and future projections, this project will help ensure power quality and continued reliability for fast-growing Clay Township and nearby residential neighborhoods in. By adding capacity to support future demand increases, this enhancement should help reduce power outages and improve system reliability to area homes and businesses.

Project Description

The Carmel Rohrer Road 12-kV Distribution Substation will be fed by an existing 69-kV transmission line located on Rohrer Road. The power line will create a loop in and out for reliability. Growth in electric demand is driving the need for a new substation with existing substations in the area nearing capacity. The upgrades will primarily serve customers who live within the area of 146th Street to the north, Main Street/131st Street to the south, Carey Road to the east and Springmill Road to the west.

Benefits to the Community

• Provides additional capacity to continue to deliver reliable electricity to meet the growing needs of Carmel and Duke Energy customers
• Provides more options for delivering and managing power in the area enhancing the integrity of the system
• Improves electrical system reliability
• Better addresses the impact of severe weather in the community
• Maintains a robust system for supplying and delivering electricity, which is integral to ensuring the continued economic growth and prosperity of the city and region
• Improves power quality and reliability for decades to come

Engagement

Community engagement is an essential part of our Siting process and allows us to receive input and to share information about this project.

Meetings/Project History

This update of our electric infrastructure originally began as a new ½-mile-long 69-kV transmission line project to feed a new 12-kV substation to be built on Duke Energy-owned property north of the Autumn Lake neighborhood and U.S. 31 on Rohrer Road. A public meeting was held on Sept. 12, 2017 at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church at 1402 W. Main St., Carmel, Ind. Duke Energy Project Team members also met with the Autumn Lake Homeowner's Association (HOA) to review the project.

The HOA, with support from city officials, opposed the power line project during the course of the 30-day public comment period. Duke Energy listened to and was sensitive to community concerns, and later purchased a different 4.8 parcel of property on Rohrer Road closer to the neighborhood and highway for the substation, eliminating the need for the power line. Construction began in late summer 2020.

Announcements

Substation In-Service Date: June 2021