OUR PLACE
The Alliant Energy building.
Years ago, all utility operations across the nation got rid of human-to-human customer service at office locations. Many times, as was the case with the Alliant structure nearly invisibly located on Main Street, right near the Bottle Shop, these energy hubs were used to organize energy entry into the Lake Geneva area by constructing a nexus for their energy transmission and reception wires. These hubs used to have offices where the public could go in and get advice, pay bills, or discuss power problems. Those offices were all closed, as was the one on Main Street. Today, the building sits there in a very valuable prime spot in central Lake Geneva. The power company, apparently, wants to move the nexus of wiring, if it still exists (which nobody really knows because there’s never anyone at the building), to a new more appropriate location. It would appear that the city owns the property the building is constructed atop but the power company has one of those iron-clad contracts to do whatever they want for as long as they want easements.
Yes, one of those.
A utility has an easement on part of your land. You own the land. You pay the taxes, insure it and take care of it according to whatever rules apply for upkeep in your area. The power company pays nothing, but when it comes to doing anything at all on your property, they have total power to do so. What does Alliant really want and what does the city want in return?
These items are not likely to be discussed anything soon. The energy company needs to rebuild the current substation and does not see this location accommodating them much longer, thirty years or less. With the projected electrical load growth of the community Alliant has already rebuilt its facilities on Highway NN and plans on rebuilding its substation on Highway 120 in the next five to seven years. These efforts are not enough and the centrally located substation downtown will also need to be upgraded. With the need to rebuild and the future need for more space, the ideal plan would be to do both at the same time. The search for a new property is not easy as it has to be close to the current location and not too close to the other substations.
The energy company is looking for the city’s help in this effort in order to provide reliable power to downtown Lake Geneva. Alliant is looking to acquire approximately 2.5 acres from the city just north of the White River Dog Park. This is part of the city’s recently purchased Hillmoor property. Council members were unenthusiastic about the proposal. Council members repeatedly shared plans for the Hillmoor property (which have not yet been made but only discussed) and the hopes of that land becoming the Central Park of Lake Geneva. The substation does not fit into this dream. The energy company is limited in regard to where it can move. The new site has to be adjacent to an existing transmission line, and this is critical. The proposed property near the dog park and White River fits the location requirements. If a substation location is selected that is not close to the transmission lines, then the lines would need to be brought to the site, thereby impacting more residents and property due to easements and power poles. Alliant is looking for approval for this relocation and believes it is a win for everyone. The community will continue to receive the power it requires and the current property on Main Street can be utilized for much-needed additional parking.
With this being suggested, the Lake Geneva City Council would like other options and believes the Hillmoor property should be Alliant’s last resort. The council has moved the issue to the finance, license, and regulation committee and requested the energy company bring more options for relocation sites to the conversation.
