MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) awarded the Multi-value Project Number 3 to ECI as Owner’s Engineer in 2012. The Project includes expansion of a substation, construction of two new substations and 120 miles of new 345 kV transmission line crossing 6 counties in central Iowa.
Also in 2012 Electrical Consultants, Inc. (ECI) was awarded the Multi-Value Project No. 4 as Owner’s Engineer (OE). Project No. 4 includes development of 3 major 345 / 161 kV substations and 70 miles of new 345 kV transmission line crossing 3 counties in central Iowa.

ECI worked closely with MEC to develop and evaluate segment alternatives for the proposed projects based on the existing line and field review. ECI had an active role in organizing and executing public meetings. Each project included hundreds of potentially effected parcels with multiple individual landowners. ECI’s role in the meetings included developing a system to efficiently welcome and check-in meeting attendees, develop maps with alignment and parcel information, and develop informational poster boards.

ECI’s responsibility to MidAmerican was a comprehensive Owner’s Engineer role as an augmentation of the utility’s staff, responsible for full program management activities. These activities included comprehensive electrical system studies of the 345 kV transmission system characteristics, EMTP studies, protection studies, over-voltage and double circuit line induction studies. ECI has been responsible for issuing the RFP to bidders, complete evaluation, recommendations to MidAmerican and handling of negotiations. In this role, we will continue as the OE responsible for managing the procurement process / reviews with the EPC contractor, quality assurance and the review of the 100 percent design packages to ensure that facilities are built in accordance with the specifications. ECI’s responsibility to MidAmerican will span a timeframe of approximately 3 years, involving a team of up to 30 individuals.