Idaho Power to rebuild old transmission line from Boise to Emmett. What it means to you
Idaho Power has plans to rebuild a 75-year-old transmission line that runs from Boise to Emmett.
The utility company said the upgrades will improve reliability and allow more energy to flow between the two cities as more people move to the Treasure Valley.
Several factors drove the decision to rebuild the transmission line, Idaho Power spokesperson Sven Berg told the Idaho Statesman by email. They include the age of the line, population growth in northern Ada County, and a companywide push to reduce wildfire risk.
The 138-kilovolt transmission line begins just north of the Boise River and stretches about 35 miles across the Boise Foothills, ending near East Main Street in Emmett.
“The line has performed well, but the time has come to update it,” Idaho Power said in a fact sheet about the project. “By rebuilding the line with newer, stronger and more modern equipment we can continue providing reliable power to customers and growing communities in Ada and Gem counties.”
The utility plans to replace the line’s existing wood poles with steel structures that are more resistant to fire and add shield wires to protect the line from lightning, which can spark wildfires and cause power outages.
The upgraded transmission line should be in service by the end of 2025, according to Berg. The project is estimated to cost $17 million.
He said Idaho Power is working with people who live near the line’s path to minimize construction-related disruptions. In some cases, the utility may be able to move a pole forward or backward along the existing route to accommodate requests from those living nearby. Most homes near the line were built after it was constructed, Berg said.
“We’re working on those requests on a case-by-case basis,” Berg said. “In most cases, we’ll put new poles exactly where the existing ones are — or very close.”
Construction on the transmission line is slated to begin next fall. Ada County Development Services is accepting written public comments on the project until 5 p.m. Friday.
Take a look at the path of the transmission line, segment by segment, from northwest to southeast, to see if it runs near your home or any places you go to:
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
