La PORTE — NIPSCO plans to invest $6 million to modernize the electrical circuit in Kingsbury Industrial Park starting in April, utility officials said.
“NIPSCO wants to do its part to help Kingsbury grow,” Don Babcock, director of economic development for Northern Indiana Public Service Co., told property owners, business leaders, elected officials and others during a breakfast meeting Monday at Portofino Grill.
More than 395 wooden poles and about 15 miles of electrical transmission and distribution lines will be replaced and upgraded, he said.
New poles in some areas will be taller than existing ones to accommodate the potential for more powerful 69,000-volt lines along 5th Line Road. This is the same area where the county built a rail spur several years ago to encourage industrial development.
Some of the transmission and distribution equipment is nearly as old as the former military ordinance plant itself, according to Babcock.
This upgrade, scheduled for completion before the end of the year, is in addition to a $3.5 million commitment NIPSCO made in a 2016 rate case for an economic development project in the industrial park. However, Babcock said a plan would be required from the county before the utility could make this investment.
In addition to replacing poles and lines, the utility will upgrade the Deer Run substation if necessary, he said.
Two other circuits in the area were upgraded in 2016 with an investment of $567,000.