Rockwood-Big River Project: Fact Sheet
Project Description:
		The Rockwood-Big River Project is designed to reduce outage timeframes to the Jefferson and St. Louis Counties by providing an additional transmission line feed in the area.
		The project involves building a new 138,000-volt transmission line extending 12 miles from Rockwood Substation, located approximately 1.5 miles east of Pacific to Big River Substation, which is near Cedar Hill.
		The line will be constructed using predominantly two-pole wood "H-frame" structures ranging in height from 80 to 100 feet.
		It will not be necessary for AmerenUE to purchase any property for the project, only utility easements. The typical easement width for this project will be 100 feet. Affected property owners will continue to own their land.
		The total cost of the project will be approximately $7.5 million.
		AmerenUE expects to have the new transmission line in service by December 2010.
Why It’s Needed:
		The electric load in Jefferson County and the surrounding area has grown by 30% since AmerenUE’s last major area transmission system upgrade in 1993. The company expects customer energy demand to grow an additional 2% - 3% per year.
		Big River and Rockwood bulk substations are both heavily winter peaking. The loss of existing 138,000-volt supply transmission lines to either of these substations will result in very long outages to a portion their customers.
		Customers benefiting by this project are those in or adjacent to the communities of Eureka, Pacific, Byrnesville, Cedar Hill, Dittmer, House Springs and Scottsdale.
Public Involvement:
		AmerenUE attempts to select transmission line routes that have the least overall impact on residents, the community and the environment.
		Public participation is a key part of the route selection process because local residents and public officials know their area better than anyone else.
		To determine the potential transmission line corridors a computer generated Geographic Information System (GIS) was developed using Global Positioning System (GPS) type data. The many information overlays consisted of geography, land-uses, real estate property lines, populated areas, flood plains, conservation areas, endangered wildlife habitat and archeological locations.
		In August 2007 AmerenUE sought comments at a Community Leader Workshop. Those included were city and county officials, business leaders, realtors, state resource agency officials, and others who are knowledgeable about local geography, growth patterns and economic conditions.
		Following the August Community Leader Workshop AmerenUE sent letters to everyone who owns property within 300 feet of any of the proposed routes inviting them to a workshop to discuss the project.
		At the September 2007 Workshop, property owners had an opportunity to meet with members of the AmerenUE team responsible for the project, view detailed maps and aerial photographs of the proposed routes, ask questions, and provide comments.
		AmerenUE considered the comments, suggestions and recommendations received from property owners in determining the final route and design.
Regulatory Approval:
		This project is entirely within AmerenUE's authorized service area. Approval by the Missouri Public Service Commission is not required.
Timing:
		AmerenUE expects to begin construction on the project in September 2009 and complete it by December 2010.