Kentucky Power to upgrade power grid near Pikeville

ASHLAND, Ky. (WTVQ) – Kentucky Power hosted an open house Thursday to talk about grid upgrades near Pikeville.

The utility company, which provides service to about 168,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties, says it’s going to improve electric reliability in Floyd and Pike counties by making significant upgrades to the power grid.

The project will include building a five-mile transmission line and new substation.  The exact route of that line through the two counties hasn’t been determined.

The company gathered feedback from landowners at Thursday’s open house as project team members work to determine a proposed route for the transmission line.

The company says if everything goes as planned, construction is expected to begin this fall and be complete by mid-2019.

For additional information about the project, including maps, a timeline and a virtual open house, click here