This project is one of 17 other similar projects – lead by the Midwest Independent SystemOperator (MISO) occurring across the Midwest.

The project is currently in the Study Area Phase - there is no selected route yet. NIPSCO is in the process of conducting studies and soliciting input from the public in order to determine the best possible route.

NIPSCO officials explain the Reynolds-Topeka Electric System Improvement Project is a six-year project that will strengthen Indiana’s electric system and provide improved access to wind and solar renewable energy sources through the construction of a new 100-mile electrical transmission line that will connect NIPSCO’s Reynolds substation (in Reynolds, IN), Burr Oak substation (in Burr Oak, IN) and Hiple Substation (near Topeka, IN).

NIPSCO emphasizes that public input is a critical component of this project and company officials are committed to keeping the public informed throughout the project. NIPSCO will host several public open houses in 2013 to solicit input on the project route, answer questions, and to address concerns.

Benefits
The Reynolds-Topeka line will provide a direct benefit to customers, the local economy, and the environment by:

• Creating new jobs and business for local suppliers
• Increasing property taxes paid to local governments by NIPSCO
• Improving the overall reliability of our electric system
• Providing anticipated cost savings to customers from access to lower cost energy
• Improving access to wind and solar renewable energy sources that reduce greenhouse gases

NIPSCO will host a series of public open houses at several locations in the study area and hope you can attend one of them. The same information will be presented at each meeting. There will be no formal presentation—the meeting will be an “open house” format where attendees can come and go as their schedules permit. Project team members will be on hand to answer questions one-on-one, review maps, and provide an overview of different aspects of the project.

The open houses will be as follows:

The next round of public open houses will be sometime around July 2013 where we will be presenting a network of potential routes.