Arizona Public Service recently completed work on one of the largest transmission construction projects in the west – a 500-kilovolt (kV) power line that connects Phoenix to Yuma. The project will bolster the reliability for Yuma area customers and the entire desert southwest.

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Arizona Public Service recently completed work on one of the largest transmission construction proje ...

Arizona Public Service recently completed work on one of the largest transmission construction projects in the west - a 500-kilovolt (kV) power line that connects Phoenix to Yuma. The project will bolster the reliability for Yuma area customers and the entire desert southwest. The 110-mile transmission line runs from the Hassayampa substation (near the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station) to the North Gila substation in Yuma. Aptly called HANG2, the $200 million project is the second route connecting the Valley to Yuma. (Photo: Business Wire)

The 110-mile transmission line runs from the Hassayampa substation (near the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station) to the North Gila substation in Yuma. Aptly called HANG2, the $200 million project is the second route connecting the Valley to Yuma.

“When planning for Arizona’s energy future, we look out 10 to 15 years to ensure our customers always have the reliable energy they have come to expect from APS,” said Pat Dinkel, APS Vice President of Transmission and Distribution Operations. “HANG2 is essentially like adding a second extension cord to our customers in Yuma. Residents and business owners in the area will have an ample supply of reliable power to run their businesses and be comfortable in their homes, even as Yuma continues to grow.”

Construction planning for the HANG2 line began more than a decade ago, as Southwest Arizona’s population began to rapidly expand. According to census data, Yuma County’s population has increased by 27 percent since 2000, making it the third fastest-growing area in the United States.

APS understood the essential need to increase the capacity to bring electricity into Yuma County. The HANG2 line meets this need.

“Whether for new power lines or power plants, the long lead time associated with planning and construction means APS must always be looking years ahead to meet current and future power needs,” said Dinkel. “This is part of our obligation to ensure a reliable energy supply for our customers — a role we take very seriously, and embrace throughout the state.

”This project was a huge undertaking, and not just because of its size. The transmission line was constructed in some of the most isolated parts of the state, across remote locations of the southwest desert, and through the rugged terrain of the Laguna and Muggins Mountains – with an emphasis on core APS values of contractor and employee safety, and on environmental sensitivity and care.”

Construction on HANG2 began in August 2013. The largest transmission construction project completed by APS in more than 25 years, the benefits for customers extends well beyond Yuma, essentially increasing reliability for the entire desert southwest.

To see a video of crews constructing the HANG2 line, click here.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves nearly 1.2 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).