Smart Energy Plan

June 17, 2026

Upgrades support growing energy demand at Lake of the Ozarks

New transformers to support reliability for more than 20,000 Ameren Missouri customers

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Summer is peak tourism season at Lake of the Ozarks, but it’s the winter season that creates the greatest demand on the local energy grid. That’s because of the nearly exclusive use of electric heating by the people and businesses who call the Lake home. And as more people choose to live the lake life year-round, that energy demand is only growing.

Ameren Missouri is working to support these changing customer needs by upgrading critical Lake-area infrastructure through its Smart Energy Plan. These efforts include new substations, power line upgrades, and adding smart technology throughout the region to help reduce outages and support faster restoration.

In 2026, crews began upgrading two transformers at the Lakeside substation, a facility that supplies power to 20,000 homes and businesses along the eastern edge of the Lake. It’s located near the intersection of Horseshoe Bend Parkway and US-54 and is one of the first “stops” for energy leaving the generators at Osage Energy Center. Power that flows through the Lakeside substation feeds several smaller distribution substations from the Village of Four Seasons to Osage Beach.

“The electricity needs of our Lake customers have changed drastically since the existing equipment was installed at the Lakeside substation in the 1980s,” said Joe Fitzgerald, director of substation maintenance and construction for Ameren Missouri. “These higher-capacity transformers will help us reliably meet the energy demands of the community today and well into the future.”

• A 33% increase in substation capacity to support peak energy demands in winter.
• Additional system flexibility to reroute power and restore customers.
• Upgraded breakers and switches designed to work with the higher capacity equipment.

In May, crews set the first of two new transformers at the site. The equipment required specialized rigging to move it slowly and safely into place. Once the upgrade of the first transformer is complete, crews will begin installing the second one. This staggered approach helps minimize potential service disruptions for customers and supports more reliable grid operations throughout construction. Both new transformers are expected to be in operation by early 2027.

To learn about upgrades in your area, visit Ameren.com/Reliability.