What will the substation look like?
The northern, eastern and western sides of the substation will be surrounded by a nine-foot-tall stonecast wall. The existing chain link fence on the southern side will remain in place to preserve the existing tree line. The expanded portion of the substation will also feature security lighting that will only be used during maintenance or emergency situations. Steel poles within the substation will be approximately 80 feet tall. Other substation equipment will be approximately 23 feet tall. Today’s transformers are significantly quieter than older ones. As with any sound, it dissipates with distance from the source.

How will the substation be accessed?
The existing access drive off Woodson Road will remain. A permanent access drive will be built from East 59th Street to the substation.

Who will maintain the substation?
Evergy will maintain the substation, including landscaping directly outside the stone wall. We will perform preventative maintenance at the substation once a month during normal business hours and will access the substation for equipment upgrades or unplanned maintenance as needed.

How will I know if it is authorized personnel at the substation?
Evergy employees utilize personal protection equipment, including hard hats, safety vests and safety glasses, when working in or around substations. All Evergy employees carry company identification. Most employees performing maintenance will be in marked Evergy vehicles. If you notice suspicious activity at the substation, please contact local law enforcement immediately.

What will be the impact on vegetation in the area?
Some trees and vegetation will be trimmed or removed for the safe construction and operations of the expanded substation and transmission line. Most of the existing vegetation on the south side of the substation site will remain. Additional landscaping will also be planted around the site.

How was the substation site chosen?
The area chosen to expand the substation was selected because of its close proximity to an existing transmission line along East 59th Street and the existing substation on the adjoining property.

How will property owners be impacted by construction?
We will work with property owners affected by construction and discuss what to expect from our construction efforts and restoration practices.

How will you communicate with property owners affected by the project?
We are hosting a neighborhood meeting November 7th before construction begins. Property owners near the substation site received meeting information, but anyone may attend. Zach Roeschlein, Evergy’s real estate project representative, will be available for the duration of the project to provide information, answer questions, or address property owners’ concerns. He can be reached at (816) 652-1589 or zachary.roeschlein@evergy.com

Who will benefit from the project?
This project will benefit residents and businesses in Raytown, Kansas City and beyond by strengthening the regional power grid and enhancing reliability. It also will provide tax revenue, construction jobs, local expenditures and will expand capabilities for future investment in area business and industry.

Who is responsible for this project?
Evergy will construct the substation expansion. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) operates the transmission system in the region for the transmission lines.

Who will build the substation and manage the construction?
Evergy will design and construct the substation expansion using both Evergy resources and subcontractors depending on the task. Evergy will provide project management services and coordination during construction of the project.

What environmental impacts will be considered with the siting of the project?
Evergy believes the environment is an important factor when planning and designing substation projects. We work closely with appropriate organizations, including the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri State Historical Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy from the beginning of projects to make sure any direct environmental impact is appropriately identified and addressed. We believe this kind of collaboration leads to developing projects that align with federal and state energy and environmental policy objectives. We adhere to all state and federal regulations to protect native plants, threatened or endangered species, wetlands and water and air quality.

Regulatory and Government Participants

Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC)
The MPSC regulates and ensures Missourians receive safe and reliable utility services at just, reasonable and affordable rates.

Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
The SPP is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale prices of electricity. SPP operates subject to a tariff filed with and governed by FERC. This tariff contains over 2,100 pages of rates, terms and conditions for providing transmission service to SPP’s customers to move wholesale electric power within and across SPP’s 17-state footprint.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
FERC regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce and ensures the reliability of high-voltage interstate transmission systems.

Evergy, Inc. (Evergy)
Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG) serves approximately 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. We generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.