DALLAS and WINFIELD, Kan., Oct. 1,
2019 /PRNewswire/ -- GridLiance, an independent
transmission company, the Kansas Power Pool (KPP), and the
City of Winfield, recently
received final state regulatory approval from the Kansas
Corporation Commission (KCC) of a long-term partnership agreement
to jointly-own and improve the city's transmission facilities
within the Southwest Power Pool regional transmission
organization.
The City of Winfield owns 256
miles of local electric distribution lines, 38 megawatts of
generation and 29 miles of electric transmission lines. Under the
terms of the agreement, GridLiance subsidiary GridLiance High
Plains will acquire a 65 percent ownership stake in the 29-miles of
Winfield's 69-kV transmission
system and invest in needed reliability upgrades. City of Winfield employees will continue to
perform operations and maintenance field services for the jointly
owned transmission facilities.
"We are pleased that the KCC recognizes the important benefits
of the partnership between GridLiance and Winfield," said Calvin
Crowder, president and CEO of GridLiance. "We are excited to
take the next step in partnering with Winfield and KPP to improve both regional and
local transmission grids. Upon close, we will immediately begin
work on needed reliability upgrades in the Winfield area."
The transaction marks GridLiance's first joint-ownership
agreement with a municipal electric utility. This transaction also
is the first developed under a co-development agreement between
GridLiance and the Kansas Power Pool (KPP).
"We were thrilled to see the KCC approve the joint-partnership
and, importantly, recognize the benefits of the transaction for the
Winfield community. Through this
transaction, Winfield gains an
able partner in the long-term stewardship of our electric
transmission assets. We are able to increase our focus on operating
and owning our generation and local electric distribution system
while maintaining ownership in the transmission system," said
Winfield Mayor Ron Hutto. "We have provided reliable public
power to our customers for more than 100 years, and this
partnership with GridLiance strengthens our efforts to provide that
same level of quality service into the future."
"Our partnership strategy with GridLiance is indicative of how
KPP is meeting its mission to help our members meet their future
energy needs. Working together we are unlocking the value of
Winfield's existing electric
transmission assets," said Mark
Chesney, CEO and General Manager of KPP. "We are convinced
that GridLiance's transmission capabilities and commitment to
Winfield will ensure greater
transmission system reliability and resiliency for the Winfield community."
The transaction is subject to customary federal approvals and is
expected to close by the end of 2019.
About the City of
Winfield
The City of Winfield is a
full-service City that was incorporated in 1873. Currently,
Winfield supplies electricity to
approximately 8,100 customers. The Cities of Winfield, Burden, Dexter as well as Strother Field Industrial
Park and much of the rural area of northern Cowley County receives electric service from
the City. The City of Winfield is
proud to operate one of the more than 2,000 American Public Power
community-owned electric utilities and is a member of the Kansas
Power Pool. The City's electric utility has served the Winfield area since 1904.
About Kansas Power Pool
The Kansas Power Pool is a municipal energy agency created under
Kansas statutes with the expressed
purpose of providing energy and transmission services for its
member / owner municipal electric utilities since 2005.
About GridLiance
GridLiance is an independent electric transmission utility
holding company. GridLiance partners with electric cooperatives,
public power, and renewable energy developers to plan for the
future of the grid, invest in electric infrastructure and implement
strategies that meet its partners' ownership, capital investment,
and operational goals. Based in Dallas, GridLiance operates hundreds of miles
of transmission lines and related substation facilities in
Nevada, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The company has long-term
partnerships with utility partners operating in Missouri, Oklahoma, Nevada, Texas, and Kansas. GridLiance is a portfolio company of
Blackstone Energy Partners, an affiliate of Blackstone (NYSE: BX),
a leading energy infrastructure investor. For more information
about GridLiance, visit gridliance.com.
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SOURCE GridLiance