Appalachian Power plans to improve local electric reliability in Abingdon and Washington County by upgrading its network to handle increased demand. The proposed Abingdon and Washington County Area Improvements project, announced in September 2015, is an estimated $50 million dollar investment in the local region.
The electric transmission upgrade will proceed in two phases; the South Abingdon Extension and the Washington County portion of the project. The first phase prioritizes the critical need to address local electric reliability.
Appalachian Power filed an application to construct the South Abingdon Extension phase with the Virginia State Corporation Commission in March 2016. The company received approval in October 2017.
The South Abingdon Extension includes a substation and about 4 miles of 138 kV double circuit transmission line. The new line will connect with an existing transmission line on the west side of Abingdon and run south to the new substation located along Vances Mill Road.
