June 02, 2025
Storm-Hardening Upgrades to Support Reliability for the St. Louis Zoo
Ameren Missouri is nearing completion of a Smart Energy Plan project aimed at supporting greater reliability for more than 9,000 customers in the Dogtown neighborhood of St. Louis.
The project involves multiple infrastructure upgrades to address the risk of outages due to storms, such as the May 16 tornado that touched down in Forest Park. The Saint Louis Zoo is among those customers being supported by these upgrades.
“We understand reliability is vital for everyone, whether we’re talking about local residents and business owners or a premiere cultural institution,” says Tommie Bugett, director of Ameren Missouri’s North Metro Operating Center. “Our goal with this project is to reduce the impact of severe weather and respond faster when outages do occur.” Upgrades include moving some sections of overhead lines underground, which will help prevent outages from falling tree limbs. Crews also replaced aging wood poles and added stronger composite poles, including a dual-layer composite pole known as a "super-storm pole," to support reliability on the remaining overhead lines.
Crews also installed a Viper Recloser as part of the project. These devices, often referred to as smart switches, can automatically detect outages and reroute power through another source to keep the lights on. Since Ameren Missouri began installing them through the Smart Energy Plan, smart switches have helped prevent more than 280,000 customer outages during major storms.
“The Saint Louis Zoo needs consistent and reliable power to ensure the well-being of our animals and the enjoyment of millions of visitors from around the world," explains Andrew Marti, director of facilities management at the Saint Louis Zoo. "Any disruption can have a significant impact on our climate-controlled habitats, critical veterinary care, and the overall guest experience. We’re pleased to see Ameren Missouri working to make sure these operations remain uninterrupted.”
The upgraded lines will be placed in service in summer 2025. The upgrades are part of Ameren Missouri's broader efforts to modernize the energy grid and support improved reliability for its 1.3 million electric customers.
