Entergy Arkansas Announces $62 Million Grid Investment In SE Arkansas

Entergy Arkansas will begin constructing a new $62.2 million transmission line from Monticello to Reed (Desha County) in the fourth quarter of 2015, the state’s largest electric utility announced on Monday (April 6).

The transmission project calls for the construction of a new 24-mile transmission line, crossing parts of both Drew and Desha counties, and expanded electrical facilities, including a new substation in Reed, to move power more reliably and efficiently into the region.

The proposed route includes a transmission line segment to the Monticello Industrial Park where the company plans to construct a new distribution substation to serve industrial and commercial customers who locate there.

“The Monticello project is a productive investment into the long-term future of our state’s economy that will enable us to enhance customer reliability,” said Hugh McDonald, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas. “Sustainable growth requires us to be disciplined, staying focused on keeping rates down and reliability up, while attracting new companies and expanding existing businesses. New growth translates into better jobs and more revenue for our communities to improve their schools, parks and roads.”

Last year, Entergy announced plans to acquire a generating unit at the Union Power Station near El Dorado. The $237 million investment is being used to modernize Entergy Arkansas’ generation fleet and position the utility for growth.

From 2014 to 2017, Entergy Arkansas plans to invest $2.4 billion on generation, transmission and distribution improvements to the state’s electrical infrastructure, it said.

“The Monticello project is one of several significant investments that will enable us to support any prospective large industrial customers that may choose to locate along the Mississippi River corridor between Reed, Ark. and Greenville, Miss.,” said McDonald.

Another transmission project represents an additional $25 million investment in southeast Arkansas. Already underway, a 27-mile transmission line from Lake Village will terminate at the new Reed Substation.

The Lake Village project is being completed in four phases: Lake Village to Macon Lake, completed June of 2014; Macon Lake to Dermott, scheduled to start construction fall of 2015; Dermott to McGehee, targeted for completion by June 2016; and McGehee to Reed, targeted for completion by June 2017.

Construction of the initial transmission line segment from the Monticello East Substation to the Monticello Industrial Park development will start in the fourth quarter of 2015 and be completed by mid-year 2016. All remaining transmission line construction will have an in-service date of 2020.

Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 700,000 customers in 63 counties.