Facility relocation

If your municipality is planning a development where facilities owned by ATC exist, it’s essential you talk to ATC as early as possible, by contacting us at municipalrequests@atcllc.com. We want your project to be successful, completed on time and above all – safe. Talking to ATC representatives early on can potentially spare you months of project planning time, and save you upwards of millions of dollars.

For a thorough review to be conducted, you will need to submit a complete set of your plans to ATC that includes grading, utility, landscaping and lighting proposals. By submitting your project plans to ATC, we will help determine if moving an ATC facility is necessary or feasible. This review process typically takes four weeks.

ATC owns and operates the high-voltage power line system in portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. The power lines in ATC’s service area carry high-voltage electricity from where the energy is produced to where it’s needed. ATC owns and operates both overhead and underground power lines throughout the region, and these lines can operate at 69,000 to 345,000 kilovolts.

The majority of ATC’s facilities are above ground on overhead power lines. These poles and wires are typically taller in height than lower-voltage distribution lines from your local utility. Engineering, siting, material acquisition and construction to move an overhead line can take more than a year to accomplish. 

ATC’s underground power lines require special consideration for any planned construction. Some high-voltage power lines are contained within a high-pressure, fluid-filled coated steel pipe. Other underground power lines are direct-buried, while others are encased within concrete duct packages. You don’t have to expose or contact an underground line to cause damage. ATC’s underground power line system is complex; therefore relocation for an underground system can typically take more than two years.

However, any uses that interfere with, obstruct, restrict or endanger the use of our facilities will not be permitted. ATC has the right to construct, replace, operate, maintain, reconstruct and access the power lines in a safe and timely manner.

There are many compatible uses for the land that houses ATC’s power lines. Some uses may not be compatible, so it’s always important to check with ATC. A few of these developments are:

• All residential subdivisions, commercial developments and road projects.
• Parking lots, roads and driveways are generally allowed within ATC utility corridors, but plans must be reviewed to ensure that the grade change will not impact our line clearances or access. 
• Retention or detention ponds restrict access to the power line facilities and should be planned for an area outside of the utility corridor.
• Electric, gas, telephone, cable TV, water, sewer and other underground lines in the utility corridor must be reviewed by ATC to ensure compatibility.
• Street lighting, sheds and septic systems are typically not allowed within the utility corridor. 
• Fences that cross the entire width of the utility corridor must have a double wide gate installed for access, with an ATC lock in the locking chain. 

Construction considerations:

• The National Electric Safety Code requires that power lines maintain certain clearances to the ground, based on the voltage of the line. Objects, buildings and recreational equipment placed underneath or too close to the power lines pose serious safety concerns and could be a violation of required clearances. 
• Storage and handling of materials beneath overhead power lines must comply with Wisconsin Administrative Code and National Electric Code requirements and may not obstruct access to the power lines and structures. 
• Traffic barriers may be required on all sides of the power line structure that are exposed to traffic or snow plowing operations.
• Purchasers should inspect a property before buying it to determine whether an utility corridor affects it. Some existing ATC corridors are not being fully utilized, and have the capacity to accommodate additional lines and equipment at a future date.

Soil and excavation considerations:

• Power line structures rely on the weight of the earth for stability. Grading too close or around the base of a tower can cause a structure to become unstable and potentially fall.
• Changes in grade under the wires can impact the required clearance from wire to ground. Temporary or permanent mounding of soil (or snow) is not allowed.
• Grade changes can cause overheating or make an overhead or underground line vulnerable to future damage.
• Staging heavy equipment on bare ground over an underground power line can cause soil compaction and sinking, which also can damage the line.
• During excavation near the underground power lines, ATC requires a representative to be present at all times.

1. The Wisconsin Administrative Code prohibits new homes from being built under power lines. 
2. The underlying land rights determine the party responsible for relocating an ATC facility.
3. Before you dig, always remember to call 811 to reach your local one-call center.

When construction plans require work near overhead or underground power lines, please email us at municipalrequests@atcllc.com. Power line facility relocation takes a great deal of time, and the cost for facility relocation can be substantial. Contact us early in your planning process so that your project can be successful, completed on time, and above all – safe.