Evergy has scrapped plans for now to upgrade the voltage on a transmission line in Parsons.
Evergy had an open house in June 2024 to discuss the project that would upgrade an existing 69 kilovolt transmission line to a 138 kV transmission line. The new 138 kV transmission line would have connected the future Katy substation near Jothi Avenue and west of U.S. 59 to the Northeast Parsons substation at Union Avenue and Pratt Road, according to Kaley Bohlen, Evergy senior communications manager.
“After further evaluation, it has been determined that the new 138 kV transmission line is not needed at this time. Instead, we will rebuild the existing 69 kV transmission line, located in south Parsons, which will primarily follow its current alignment. However, a portion of the 69 kV transmission line will be newly constructed to connect to the new Katy substation. The route for these sections is still being determined,” Bohlen wrote in an email to the Sun.
She said Evergy will host a community open house to share more information and maps as the project progresses. The substation on Southern Avenue, and any sections of the existing transmission line that will no longer be used, will be removed.
“These upgrades will enhance reliability for the community and strengthen the regional power grid,” Bohlen wrote.
She said the decision followed a lengthy planning and evaluation process that Evergy follows.
“The planning process for these projects often takes years, and projected needs or other elements may change during that time. As this project was reevaluated, it was determined that rebuilding the 69 kV line would allow us to continue to serve the community reliably,” she wrote.
