Wheatland Secures $1.35 Million in Grants to Strengthen Grid Reliability

When severe weather rolls across southwest Kansas, Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., (WEC) crews are ready to respond. But thanks to nearly $1.35 MILLION in awarded state and federal funds, WEC is investing in projects designed to help prevent outages before they happen.

WEC has been awarded $1,348,911 through the U.S. Department of Energy’s GRID RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS (GRIP) PROGRAM, with matching support from the KANSAS INFRASTRUCTURE HUB’S BUILD KANSAS FUND. 

The project includes $909,378 in federal funding, $417,556 through the state, and a $21,977 contribution from WEC. The funding is part of a statewide initiative announced by Gov. Laura Kelly that awarded more than $13.7 million to 18 Kansas communities for energy grid resilience and airport infrastructure projects.

“Every dollar we can secure through competitive grants is a dollar that doesn’t have to come directly from our members,” said BRUCE W. MUELLER, CEO/GENERAL MANAGER. “This investment allows us to strengthen some of the most critical parts of our electric system while continuing to be responsible stewards of the cooperative’s resources. It’s about making smart investments today that will provide more reliable service for years to come.”

For WEC, the investment will strengthen critical electric infrastructure serving GARDEN CITY, HOLCOMB AND LAKIN across southwest Kansas.

The ROOTED IN RESILIENCE initiative focuses on strengthening key feeder lines that have experienced repeated outages during high winds, ice storms and other severe weather events. Planned improvements include undergrounding vulnerable sections of power line, upgrading electrical conductors and replacing existing wooden poles with stronger ductile iron poles that are better equipped to withstand Kansas weather. 

Because the grant was designed with specific eligibility requirements, WEC focused on infrastructure improvements that would provide the greatest reliability benefits within its eligible communities.

Although portions of the infrastructure are only a few decades old, these feeder lines have experienced a disproportionate number of weather-related outages because they serve large portions of the cooperative’s system, according to BRANDON BARRETT, WEC’S DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.

“These improvements are designed to strengthen the backbone of our electric system so we can deliver more reliable service to our members when they need it most,” Barrett 
said, adding that the project also provides WEC an opportunity to evaluate ductile iron poles as a long-term solution for strengthening the cooperative’s electric system. 

Since 2016, the four targeted feeder lines have experienced 20 SIGNIFICANT OUTAGES, resulting in interrupted electric service. Once complete, the projects are expected to reduce both the frequency and duration of future outages while improving reliability for approximately 1,700 COOPERATIVE MEMBERS and an additional 2,200 RESIDENTS served through the City of Lakin’s municipal electric system.

Beyond improving reliability, the grant funding helps reduce the financial burden on members by allowing the cooperative to complete critical infrastructure improvements while maximizing the value of every member dollar. Construction is expected to be completed over the next two years.

“Our members count on us every day, whether they’re flipping on the lights at home, opening a business, or running a farm,” Mueller said. “These investments help ensure we’re ready to deliver the reliable power they depend on, no matter what 
the Kansas weather brings.”