Polk County Reliability Enhancement Project

Preferred Route Announcement December 2018

Duke Energy announced plans in April 2018 for a new substation and two new 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines in Polk County, Fla. This project will enhance the ability of Duke Energy and neighboring utilities to provide safe and reliable energy to homes, community facilities and businesses in the area by connecting the company’s Osprey Energy Center in the city of Auburndale to existing substations in Kathleen, Fla., and Haines City, Fla.

We have selected the preferred routes for this project. The general location of the routes can be viewed on the interactive map.

In reaching a decision, we’ve taken great care to review and consider community input along with other factors such as safety, reliability, land use, and cultural and natural resources. Based on extensive evaluation, we have selected routes that we believe will have the least overall impact to homes, personal property, businesses, the environment and the community. 

Kathleen 230-kV Transmission Line

A new 230-kV transmission line will extend from the Osprey Energy Center approximately 26.2 miles west to the existing Kathleen substation in Polk County.



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Haines City 230-kV Transmission Line

A new 230-kV transmission line will extend from the Osprey Energy Center approximately 21.4 miles east to the existing Haines City East substation in Polk County. 



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Osprey Substation

The new substation will take energy generated at the Osprey Energy Center and deliver it throughout the region and the state through Duke Energy’s electric transmission system. 

Interactive Map

This map allows the public to view the general location of the routes of the new transmission lines. 
 

Next Steps – What to Expect

Land surveying and other field activities will begin in early 2019 and continue for approximately six months. These activities define the easement area and determine the precise location of the pole locations and easement rights that will be needed to construct, operate and maintain the transmission lines. Company representatives will begin contacting landowners in mid-2019 where easements are needed. Easement acquisition will continue through 2020.

Additional pre-construction activities including engineering and design, land surveying, soil borings and vegetation clearing will occur in advance of the actual construction, which is expected to begin late summer 2021. The lines are scheduled to be placed in service in 2024.