Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR), Houston, announced that American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has selected Quanta Services to rebuild 66 miles of its 345,000-volt power line near Corpus Christi, Texas. Quanta will perform this work while the lines remain energized, using proprietary processes and equipment to avoid service outages to AEP's customers during construction.
Currently projected for completion in March 2016, this project is the first of five phases of energized transmission upgrades planned in the area by AEP. This phase represents the longest span of transmission line in the U.S. to be rebuilt while remaining in an energized state. Pre-construction activities are underway and construction is expected to start in the fourth quarter and ramp up throughout 2013.
"We believe Quanta is the only infrastructure service provider that has the technology and trained resources to complete an energized reconductoring project of this magnitude," said Jim O'Neil, president and chief executive officer of Quanta Services. "Our energized services solution can allow AEP to avoid service disruption, reduce cost, and ultimately strengthen power delivery to the region."
This work is part of a program to upgrade a total of 240 miles of line in South Texas spanning from Harlingen, Texas, to Corpus Christi, Texas, and ending in Edinburg, Texas. Once in service, the transmission line upgrade is expected to increase the line's power capacity by more than 40 percent.