Saddle Creek 73: FAQs
1.	Q.	Why is this project necessary?
	A.	The summer peak electric load in Franklin County and the surrounding area has grown by 50 percent while the winter peak electric load as grown by 30 percent since AmerenUE’s last major area transmission system upgrade in 1993. The company expects customer energy demand to grow an additional   – 3 percent per year.    The $6.2 million project involves building a new 34,500-volt sub-transmission line extending 7 miles from the Saddle Creek Substation, located near Gray Summit, to an existing 34,500-volt sub-transmission line on Old County Farm Road, just east of Union. The line will be constructed to 138,000-volt standards using predominantly two-pole wood "H-frame" structures ranging in height from 60 to 100 feet. This line will eventually supply a future 138,000-volt substation.
2.	Q.	Who will benefit from this project?
	A.	Customers directly benefiting by this project are those in or adjacent to the communities of Union and St. Clair. However, all communities in Franklin County will benefit either directly or indirectly by preparing for future load growth and by introducing a diversity of supply, thus creating a more reliable system.
3.	Q.	What would happen if AmerenUE did not build this project?
	A.	Failure to build this transmission line to keep up with the area's growing electricity needs would eventually result in power supply problems, reducing reliability and hampering future economic growth.
4.	Q.	Does AmerenUE need to get approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission to build this project?
	A.	As a regulated public utility, AmerenUE has an obligation to build and maintain the necessary facilities to provide safe and reliable service to its customers. This project is being conducted as part of that obligation. Since this project will be entirely within AmerenUE's existing service area, PSC approval is not required, although AmerenUE does keep the PSC staff informed of such projects.
5.	Q.	How will AmerenUE select the route for the new transmission line?
	A.	AmerenUE attempts to select transmission line routes that have the least overall impact on residents, the community and the environment. Public participation is a key part of the route selection process because local residents and public officials know their area better than anyone else.
			To determine the potential transmission line corridors a computer generated Geographic Information System (GIS) was developed using Global Positioning System (GPS) type data. The many information overlays consisted of geography, land-uses, real estate property lines, populated areas, flood plains, conservation areas, endangered wildlife habitat and archeological locations.
			At the Feb. 7, 2008, Informational Workshop, property owners will have an opportunity to meet with members of the AmerenUE team responsible for the project, view detailed maps and aerial photographs of the proposed routes, ask questions, and provide comments. Property owners who are not able to attend the Informational Workshop can mail or fax their comments within 14 days after the meeting to: Ameren Real Estate Department – MC 700, PO Box 66149, St. Louis, MO 63166-6149, 314-554-2570 (Fax). AmerenUE will consider the comments, suggestions and recommendations received from property owners in determining the final route and design.
6.	Q.	Who have you worked with in the local community on this project?
	A.	It will not be necessary for AmerenUE to purchase any property for the project, only utility easements. The typical easement width for this project will be 120 feet. Twenty feet of easement is being acquired for a future 34,500 volt sub-transmission line that will run parallel and adjacent to the wood “H-frame” structures described above.
7.	Q.	How many easements will AmerenUE need to acquire?
	A.	Depending on the final route chosen, AmerenUE will need to acquire easements from approximately 30-40 property owners.
8.	Q.	How big will these easements have to be?
	A.	The easements will be 120 feet wide, with the transmission lines, themselves, placed in the middle.
9.	Q.	What if AmerenUE needs to obtain an easement and the property owner doesn’t want to grant the easement? Will you acquire the easement anyway through condemnation?
	A.	When AmerenUE needs to acquire easements, the company makes a strong effort to work with the property owners and the community to select a route that will have the least overall impact. Property owners are paid fair market value for the property rights that need to be acquired. Condemnation is a last resort-used only when there are no feasible alternatives.    For example, AmerenUE acquires approximately 750 transmission and distribution easements each year. Less than 2 percent of those easements are acquired through eminent domain.
10.	Q.	Will anyone have to relocate to make way for the new transmission lines? Will any productive farmland be lost?
	A.	Our goal in the route selection process is to avoid occupied residences. Farming and recreational activities are generally not affected by the presence of transmission lines.
11.	Q.	Once you choose a final route, what happens next?
	A.	We will send letters to all property owners along the final route chosen, advising them of the route selected and the next steps in the project. We will begin meeting with individual property owners along the route to negotiate fair compensation for the necessary easements.    We expect to begin land clearing for the new line in September 2009, with actual construction to begin in December 2009. Work is expected to be completed and line placed in service by December 2010.
12.	Q.	How much disruption will the work cause to property along the route? Will you fix any damage?
	A.	As with any construction project, machinery and heavy equipment will cause some temporary disruption. However, AmerenUE will fix any damage or provide acceptable compensation to the property owner.
	Q.	When will the project begin? When will it be completed
	A.	AmerenUE expects to begin construction on the project in September 2009 and complete it by December 2010.