In order to improve the reliability of high-voltage electrical service in the Kalamazoo area, ITC Michigan, through its Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC) subsidiary, is constructing a new substation and two new transmission lines in Almena and Oshtemo townships. This project will reduce the demand on the area’s main high-voltage substation by providing an additional source of energy for the region. In July 2013 the Michigan Public Service Commission granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity establishing an approved route for the transmission lines. Construction was completed in spring 2016.
The majority of the electrical demand in the Kalamazoo area is served from one high-voltage substation located about 20 miles north of the city. It has three transformers that “step down” the voltage from 345,000 volts (345 kV) to 138 kV. Losing one of these transformers after the outage of another, such as during a maintenance period, would cause the only remaining transformer to be overloaded. In that case the transformer would have to be shut down in order to prevent it from being damaged. The 138 kV system then would attempt to draw power from elsewhere in the system depending on what is available.