Nilles Road Pole Replacements

Our goal at Duke Energy is to provide affordable and dependable electricity every day to Southwest Ohio. With that commitment in mind, we’ve identified a need to replace a 138-kilovolt (kV) wooden transmission utility pole that is located along Nilles Road near Creekside Middle School in Fairfield, Ohio. The project will involve installing three new steel transmission poles to address the reliability of the electric system.

Project Need

Duke Energy regularly conducts inspections of its transmission equipment to ensure its safe and reliable operation. Recent inspections found that a wood transmission pole along Nilles Road needed to be replaced. 

Duke Energy typically installs steel pole replacements within 3 to 5 feet of the existing pole. However, this is not possible due to the location of the wood utility pole. The affected wood utility pole will be replaced with a new wood distribution pole, which will hold a lower-voltage line that serves homes, schools and businesses.

The 138-kV transmission line will be transferred to two new steel utility poles. An additional wood transmission pole about 169 feet to the west of the affected pole also will be replaced with steel (and the old pole eventually removed) to support modern guidelines.

Project Description

See wider view of the area.

The replacements involve installing a steel pole about 30 feet to the west of the current location. This pole will be about 72.5 feet above ground – approximately 11 feet taller than the present wood transmission pole. The base diameter of this new pole will be around 24 inches.

The second transmission pole replacement will be about 110 feet east of the present wood utility pole. This pole will stand about 63.5 feet above ground, which is about 5 feet taller than the present wood transmission pole. The base diameter of this new pole will be around 22 inches.

To support the new steel pole construction, an additional wood pole located approximately 3 feet to the west of its present pole location – about 190 feet west of the Wittenberg Drive/Nilles Road intersection – will be replaced with steel and the old wood pole will be removed after construction. The new pole will be approximately 72.5 feet above ground – about 9 feet taller than the wooden pole. The base diameter of the new pole will be approximately 24 inches. 

The steel, height and base of the new poles all support modern reliability standards.

Duke Energy Ohio is proposing construction for this project to begin in November 2021 and to be completed by the end of 2021.

A notice to construct, operate and maintain this electric transmission line project is now pending before the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) in Columbus, Ohio. View the copy of the notice.

A paper copy will be provided upon request. To obtain a paper copy, please contact 888.827.5116.

Benefits to the Community

• Maintains a robust system for supplying and delivering energy, which is integral to ensuring the continued economic growth and prosperity of the city.
• Improves power quality and reliability for decades to come by protecting the energy grid.