What is the project? 
Evergy is preparing to rebuild the existing 0.9-mile transmission line along 11th Street between the substation at 17th Street and Emporia to the substation at 11th Street and Jefferson. 

A short section of line will be needed along 11th Street to connect to the existing transmission line in the area near 11th Street and Wabash. More information will be shared with affected residents as plans are determined. 
 
The transmission portion of the structures going north through the historic neighborhood along Emporia Avenue, just north of 11th Street, are currently scheduled to be removed in 2028. The existing wood poles would be shortened to remove the transmission line wires at the top. The shortened wood poles and distribution line would remain to continue serving residences and businesses in the area. 

Why is the project needed? 
The project replaces a transmission line that is more than 70 years old and is nearing the end of its service life. Upgrading the infrastructure is needed to ensure our equipment meets modern construction standards for reliability and safety. The upgrades will enhance electric reliability, support growth in Wichita, and strengthen the regional power grid. 

What will poles look like? 
In-line poles will be wood. Poles where the line changes direction will be steel on concrete foundations. Steel poles eliminate the need for guy wires for support. They also provide additional reliability and resiliency with the harsh weather conditions our communities can face.  

Wood poles will be about 175-325 feet apart and about 90-105 feet tall. Steel poles will be about 90-110 feet tall on 7-9 foot concrete foundations. Based on the community’s preference, steel poles will be weathered. 

Vegetation removal will be required for the safe construction and operation of the transmission line. Evergy’s routine tree trimming around the distribution line will not change and is separate from the vegetation clearing needed for the transmission line rebuild. 
 
What is happening with the other projects in the area? 
After further evaluation of the transmission line between the substation at 11th Street and Jefferson to the substation at 777 West Central Avenue, we determined the rebuild is not needed at this time. Improvements being made to the Mead substation have enabled us to remove this project from the current schedule. If the project is needed in the future, we would begin our communications process again, which would include outreach with landowners and an open house. 

The existing substation near Mead and 3rd Street will be expanded. We have developed a plan that respects the historical significance of the Keep Kleen property while upgrading and expanding the substation. Work is scheduled to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.  

When will the line be built? 
Construction is scheduled to begin in July and be completed by the end of December. Construction typically occurs during normal business hours.  

Property restoration will take place after construction is completed. The time needed for restoration is weather dependent and varies by project, but properties will be restored to, near as reasonable, pre-construction condition. 

How will you communicate with property owners affected by the project? 
Evergy is committed to transparent and timely communications with landowners and neighbors. As plans for the project are developed, we will share details with residents in the area. We hosted an open house in April 2024 for attendees to review preliminary plans and provide feedback. We are hosting a second open house in June 2025 to share a near-final design. People who live or own property along the transmission line route will receive letters of invitation from Evergy, but the meetings will be open to the community. Project details are available online by visiting www.evergy.com/riverside. 

What is the difference between distribution and transmission lines? 
Transmission lines are like interstates or highways, carrying electricity long distances from substation to substation. Distribution lines are like city streets, carrying electricity to neighborhoods. Service lines carry electricity to individual homes and businesses. 

Why won’t the lines be underground?  
Cost and feasibility prevent undergrounding for these projects. In many places, room isn’t available to rebuild the transmission line underground because other utilities (natural gas and water lines, for example) are already underground in this area. Transmission lines carry more electricity than distribution lines, which results in larger and more complex construction and higher costs when buried. 

While in some areas, distribution lines or service lines are buried, it’s uncommon to bury transmission lines. Out of Evergy’s approximately 10,200 miles of transmission lines across our entire service area in Kansas and Missouri, less than 20 miles – or less than 1 percent – are underground. 

The cost of constructing underground transmission lines generally is about eight times more than overhead. While specific costs haven’t yet been calculated, early estimates place the 17th Street-Riverside project at about $6 million. That puts the general estimate for underground lines at nearly $50 million. Costs could go higher given the constraints of the neighborhood. As we work to maintain affordable electricity rates, we must take this into consideration as those costs are included in the rates all customers pay for their service. 

Even if a short section of transmission line could be buried, overhead-to-underground transition structures, or risers, would be required on both ends of the undergrounded section to house the line’s conductor. These structures must be self-supporting, so they would be large steel poles on concrete foundations. Our goal is to use wood poles where possible for these projects. 

Why does Evergy use steel poles? 
Steel poles are more reliable and resilient than wood poles in the harsh weather conditions our communities can face. The poles are engineered to withstand approximately 100 MPH wind. Steel poles can also make for an overall smaller footprint than lattice structure or poles that require guywires for support.  

Who will benefit from the project? 
This project will benefit residents and businesses in Wichita, south-central Kansas and beyond by strengthening the regional power grid and enhancing reliability. It will support electrical load growth in the area, provide tax revenue, construction jobs, local expenditures and will expand capabilities for future investment in area business and industry. 

Who is responsible for this project?  
Evergy will construct and own the new transmission line. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) operates the transmission system in the region for this transmission line. SPP will direct Evergy to operate the new transmission line. 

Who will build the lines and manage the construction? 
Evergy will design and construct the transmission line using both Evergy resources and subcontractors depending on the task. Evergy will provide project management services and coordination during construction of the project. 

What environmental impacts will be considered with the siting of the project? 
Evergy believes the environment is an important factor when planning and designing transmission line projects. We work closely with appropriate organizations, including the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Historical Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy from the beginning of projects to make sure any direct environmental impact is appropriately identified and addressed. We believe this kind of collaboration leads to developing a transmission line route that aligns with federal and state energy and environmental policy objectives. We adhere to all state and federal regulations to protect native plants, threatened or endangered species, wetlands and water and air quality. 

Participants

Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC)
The KCC regulates and has the responsibility of ensuring electric utilities provide safe, adequate and reliable services at reasonable rates. The mission of the KCC is to protect the public interest through impartial and efficient resolution of all jurisdictional issues.

Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
The SPP is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC) to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale prices of electricity. SPP operates subject to a tariff filed with and governed by FERC. This tariff contains over 2,100 pages of rates, terms and conditions for providing transmission service to SPP’s customers to move wholesale electric power within and across SPP’s 17-state footprint.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
FERC regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce and ensures the reliability of high-voltage interstate transmission systems.

Evergy, Inc. (Evergy)
Evergy, Inc. serves approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. We generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.