Smart Energy Plan

June 06, 2024

Stronger Poles Help Harden Grid in St. Louis County

Ameren Missouri is updating aging equipment along four miles of overhead lines to improve reliability in southwest St. Louis County.

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The circuit, which includes a section along Grant's Trail, has experienced two dozen service interruptions in the past five years. This investment includes replacing older, non-standard equipment to meet modern standards, improving reliability by reducing the chance of failure.

Crews are also storm-hardening the line by replacing aging wood poles. Stronger composite poles, which can withstand winds up to 70mph, have been placed strategically throughout the project. Similar improvements are also being made to sections of overhead lines along Watson Road at Grant's Trail. “We’re constantly exploring innovative ways to improve reliability during severe weather,” says Dusty Riley, director of Ameren Missouri’s Mackenzie Operating Center. “Storm related outages have been significantly reduced on sections of power lines with storm-hardening improvements."

These Smart Energy Plan upgrades will help support improved reliability for more than 10,000 customers in the Crestwood and Affton areas. The project was completed in the summer of 2024.