Noblesville-Westfield Reliability Projects

Since 2000, the population of Westfield has nearly quadrupled and the population of Noblesville has grown 130%. This growth is expected to continue and is demanding more of Duke Energy’s local electric transmission system.

Yes. To maintain reliable service, it is important to anticipate increased demand and to meet that expected demand as Noblesville and Westfield continue to grow, and to prepare for future growth, the system must be upgraded. 

The existing backbone of the area’s electric system is a 230-kilovolt (kV) line that runs north to south, parallel to Moontown Road/North Gray Road. This high-voltage power line is feeding the local 69-kV transmission grid, which powers area distribution substations that bring the electricity to homes and businesses. This line was built in 1984 when the area was less populated.

The new lines and poles will be built on privately owned land as well as within public easement areas. It is often difficult to build only in the road easement area because local municipalities and departments of transportation like to keep these areas free of utilities to allow them to widen and maintain roads as needed.    

Easements will first need to be acquired, and we estimate construction will begin in late 2023 for completion in 2024. 

The new poles will be made of self-supporting, galvanized steel. Steel poles are more reliable than traditional wood utility poles, which can mean fewer power outages. The poles have an improved design for lightning protection and require less maintenance (therefore less disturbance to neighborhoods). The new poles are expected to be 80 feet to 100 feet tall.

Steel poles enhance long-term reliability. They last longer than wood utility poles and require less maintenance. The poles are designed to include lightning protection and can withstand high wind speeds. Both attributes benefit the energy grid during inclement weather.

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. 

Transmission lines carry energy over long distances, and distribution lines are the lower-voltage lines that carry energy to homes and businesses.

Transmission power lines are the major power lines that carry energy between substations and are much more difficult to place underground, requiring large open trenches, special vaults and other equipment, which significantly drive up the costs of installation, which are paid for by our customers. Only about 1% of the nation’s transmission lines are placed underground. Power lines that are placed underground are typically lower-voltage lines. Underground lines can and do experience outages. When this happens, the outages are often longer due to the time it takes to locate the problem, excavate to reach equipment, and repair and rebury the line.

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. Learn more about vegetation management in this video.

While scientific study continues, decades of scientific studies have examined low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) from power lines, household appliances and other electrical devices. Unlike EMF from higher-frequency sources, such as ultraviolet light and X-rays, low-frequency EMF from power lines has not been found to have a link to adverse health conditions.

Duke Energy will take aesthetics into consideration as the new substation is designed and constructed. 

If we do not upgrade the local energy grid that serves Noblesville and Westfield, we run the risk of not being able to reliably provide power and quickly restore power in the event of an outage.

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 after properties are sold to a new owner. Learn more about easements in this short video.

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.

A Duke Energy representative will contact you individually if an easement is needed on your property.

The project is currently entering the engineering design phase. Specific pole locations have not yet been identified. We will continue to share information with impacted property owners and on our website as it becomes available.