River Falls to Hudson Reliability Project
As the populations of Hudson and River Falls continue to grow, the demand for reliable electricity rises in tandem. This growth places increased pressure on existing infrastructure, highlighting the need for modernized and expanded transmission lines and associated substations. To provide voltage support for the area, Xcel Energy is proposing to build a new transmission line to connect the 115kV line north of River Falls to the 115kV line north of Hudson. This important transmission and distribution project will provide significant benefits to electric customers throughout the area and support residential, commercial and industrial development in western Wisconsin (particularly in northern Pierce County and into southern St. Croix County)
Resources
Project Information Sheet (Opens in a new window) Open House Maps (Opens in a new window) River Falls to Hudson Virtual Presentation (Opens in a new window) Simulation Images (Opens in a new window) Transmission Line Construction (Opens in a new window) Safety Around Power Lines (Opens in a new window) Birds and Power Lines (Opens in a new window) Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) (Opens in a new window) Overhead vs Underground Information (Opens in a new window)Project Details
The proposed new transmission line will connect the 115kV line north of River Falls to the 115kV line north of Hudson to provide voltage support for the area, running from the proposed Junction Mill substation (north of River Falls) to the proposed Sono Junction substation, to the existing Willow River substation (northeast of Hudson). Additionally, two substations will be built and five existing ones upgraded to support the transmission line.
Project Route Segments
The proposed transmission route segments follow existing roads and infrastructure as much as possible. The project will begin at the River Falls substation and run north on the eastern side of Hudson concluding north of Interstate 94 at the Willow River substation. Several possible route segments are under consideration to connect the proposed Junction Mill substation north of River Falls to the Sono Junction substation north of Interstate 94. Some segments described below are alternative route options and some segments are without an alternative due to their location within the system or a lack of a viable alternative route. Only one route will be constructed
- Segment A: A single circuit 69kV line that will replace the existing 115kV line
- Segment B: A double circuit 69/115 KV line that will replace the existing 115 kV line.
- Segment C: A single circuit 115 kV line that will run north to Junction Mill.
- Segment D: A single circuit 115 kV line that runs north along Radio Road.
- Segment E: A single circuit 115 kV line that runs north along Highway 35 across Interstate 94.
- Segment F: A single circuit 115 kV line that runs east along Chapman Drive, north along County Road U, west along County Road N, and north across Interstate 94.
- Segment G: A single circuit 115 kV line that runs north along Highway 12 into Sono Junction substation.
- Segment H: A double circuit 115 kV line comes out of Sono Junction substation to the west and then turns north
- Segment I: A double circuit 115 kV line runs west along the railroad tracks and then turns north to intersect with an existing transmission line corridor.
- Segment J: A double circuit 115 kV line continues north to intersect with an existing transmission line corridor
- Segment K: Reuse the existing 115 kV circuit southwest along the transmission line corridor into the existing Willow River substation.
Current Status
Xcel Energy thanks all landowners who attended our recent open houses and have provided comments on the potential route options. We are currently reviewing all comments and continue to evaluate route options we may propose in the application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) we will submit to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) in early 2026. Landowners and community members are encouraged to continue sharing feedback using the contact form below.
Materials presented at the recent open house meetings are available in the Resources section above.
Project Timeline
- File Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW): Early 2026
- Commission review: 12-18 months to review and evaluate route options included in the Route Permit application: Decision expected late 2026
- Construction is slated to begin: 2028
- Target completion date for construction: End of 2031