Research and Reference Resources

Dane County Electricity Use

Concerned about energy use and electricity in Dane County?

• What Proposed Transmission Projects Affect Dane County Residents?
• How Does the Review Process Work? (PDF)
• What Is the Public Service Commission (PSC)?
• PSC Brochures of Interest
• Transmission Projects in the News
• Related Information

 

What Proposed Transmission Projects Affect Dane County Residents?

Three electrical projects proposed to the Public Service Commission (PSC) would affect Dane County residents. They are: [see a map of the areas affected]

1. Waunakee Project 137-CE-139

Project: About 8.5 mile 138 kV line
Status: Application in to Commission
Hearings: The public comment period is closed and the Commission is considering the application.

Application of American Transmission Company, as an Electric Public Utility, to construct a new 138 kV transmission line from the North Madison Substation to the Huiskamp Substation in the Towns of Vienna and Westport in Dane County, WI

 

2. Fitchburg Project 137-CE-146

Project: About 6 mile 138 kV line
Status: Application in to Commission
Application in to Commission Comments: Public comments can be submitted to the PSC through July 28, 2007

Pre-application of American Transmission Company, as an Electric Public Utility, to construct a new 138 transmission line from the Fitchburg Substation to a new Substation in the Town of Montrose, All in Dane County, Wisconsin

 

3. West Middleton to Rockdale 137-CE-147

Project: About 25-40 mile 345 kV line
Status: Application expected in 2007

Pre-application of American Transmission Company, as an Electric Public Utility, to construct a new 345 kV transmission line from the Rockdale Substation to the West Middleton Substation, Dane County, Wisconsin

 

What is the Public Service Commission (PSC)?

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is an independent regulatory agency dedicated to serving the public interest. The agency is responsible for the regulation of Wisconsin public utilities, including those that are municipally-owned. The PSC receives its authority and responsibilities from the State Legislature

The PSC sets utility rates and determines levels for adequate and safe service. More than 1,400 utilities are under the agency's jurisdiction. Most of these must obtain PSC approval before instituting new rates, issuing stocks or bonds, or undertaking major construction projects such as power plants, water wells, and transmission lines.

The Electric Division is responsible for all major aspects of the PSC regulation of electric utilities. Utilities need PSC approval for their rates and for building large power plants or power lines. The division reviews utility finances, corporate structure, merger applications, affiliated interests, and has responsibilities as a small business advocate. For construction cases, the division looks at need, alternatives, costs, and environmental impacts. The division also reviews energy use, conservation programs, proposed power plants, and power lines; and general issues, such as electromagnetic fields.

(Adapted from PSC at a Glance brochure, October 2004)

 

PSC Brochures of Interest

• Electric Transmission Lines (PSC, September 2004)
• Environmental Impacts of Electric Transmission Lines (PSC, July 2004)
• Guide to Public Hearings (PSC, September 2004)
• Public Hearing Guide: Electric Construction Projects
• Transmission Line Review Process (PSC, August 2004)

Or see all PSC Electric Publications

Confused? Learn Utility Industry Lingo

 

Transmission Projects in the News

PSC Press Releases

Selected Articles from The Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal

• (links to Madison.com articles, or read these and many more articles in the library's ProQuest newspaper database)

• PSC Seeks ATC Extension. Kevin Murphy. The Capital Times. May 8, 2007. pg. D.7
• Power Line Concerns Were Heard by PSC. Annita Wozniak. The Capital Times. May 1, 2007. pg. A.7
• Power Line Plan Should Go Forward; State Regulators Were Right to Reject a Request for Yet Another Study of the Need for a High-Voltage Power Line Around Madison. Wisconsin State Journal. Apr. 16, 2007. pg. A.10
• Demands Complicate PSC Report. Wisconsin State Journal. Apr. 12, 2007. pg. A.8
• Power Line Delayed As ATC Mulls Options. Bill Novak. The Capital Times. Apr. 11, 2007. pg. A.10
• PSC: No Study; Agency Won't OK Independent Need Review. Judy Newman. Wisconsin State Journal. Mar. 23, 2007. p. B.8
• PSC Reject Request for Power Line Study. The Capital Times. Mar. 23, 2007. pg. A.5
• Study Requested for Power Lines. Bill Novak. The Capital Times. Feb. 23, 2007. pg. C.3
• Power Line Gets Extra Hearing. The Capital Times. Feb. 10, 2007. pg. B.4
• ATC Confident About Projects. Bill Novak. The Capital Times. Feb. 5, 2007. pg. B.1
• Power-line Foes Fire Salvos At Psc Hearing. Karen Rivedal. Wisconsin State Journal. Feb. 4, 2007. pg. D.1
• Hearings Set On Power Line Plan. Judy Newman. Wisconsin State Journal. Jan. 31, 2007. pg. A.8
• PSC Has Transparent Siting Process. Lee Cullen. Wisconsin State Journal. Jan. 18, 2007. pg. A.10
• New Look Psc Puts Public First. Mike Ivey. The Capital Times. Jan. 16, 2007. pg. A.10
• Citizens Need to Look Beyond ATC's Power Line Options. Annita Wozniak. The Capital Times. Jan. 15, 2007. pg. A.9
• City Would Want Transmission Line Buried. Kevin Murphy. The Capital Times. Jan. 11, 2007. pg. B.1
• ATC Seeks Permit from PSC. WSJ staff. Wisconsin State Journal. Dec. 29, 2006. pg. C.8
• 'No Way,' ATC Says to Paying for New Study . Bill Novak. The Capital Times. Dec 14, 2006. pg. D.1
• Report: Review Not Needed for Power Line . Judy Newman. Wisconsin State Journal. Nov 29, 2006. pg. B.8
• Power Line Referendum Gets Support; American Transmission Co. Backs Request for an Independent Study but an Executive Says It's Not Needed. Judy Newman. Wisconsin State Journal. Nov 6, 2006. pg. A.1
• Panel Head: Energy Study for County Outdated. Christopher Michaels. The Capital Times. Oct 24, 2006. pg. C.1
• PSC Urged to Weign In on Power Line Alternate. Bill Novak. The Capital Times. Oct 18, 2006. pg. C.2
• County Board to Vote on Power Line Study Question. Lisa Schuetz. Wisconsin State Journal. Sep 21, 2006. pg. B.3
• City Eyes Intervenor in Power Line Fight. Maureen Backman. The Capital Times. Sep 20, 2006. pg. A.5
• Power Crunch; Does Dane County Need More Transmission Lines? Mark Williamson. Wisconsin State Journal. Sep 17, 2006. pg. B.1
• ATC Seeks More Power; Fitchburg Line, Substation . Jeff Richgels. The Capital Times. Sep 7, 2006. pg. E.1
• County Plans Line Hearings; Two High-Voltage Power Lines Are Under Consideration. Marv Balousek. Wisconsin State Journal. Aug 15, 2006. pg. C.8
• Pols Push Alternative To Power Line; Letter Endorses New Technology. Bill Novak. The Capital Times. Jul. 27, 2006. pg. B.1
• ATC Puts 3 Routes on Table; Beltline Power Line Splits County Leaders. Bill Novak. The Capital Times. May 23, 2006. pg. A.1

 

Related Information

Report to the Wisconsin Legislature on the Regional Electric Transmission System. PSC, 1998.

Building a green capital city : a blueprint for Madison's sustainable design and energy future. Madison (Wis.). Mayor's Energy Task Force. 2004.

Basics of electrical power transmission. Anthony Pansini. J. Prentice Hall, 1990.

Items in our catalog authored by the Public Service Commission

City of Madison Sustainable Design and Energy Committee web site

Sustaining Our World, Our Communities, Ourselves: Resources for Earth-Friendly Living, rev. February 2006 (a collaboration between Madison Public Library and Madison Gas & Electric)

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