
Great Plains (KETA Project), proposed by ITC Holdings Corp., is a 227 mile, 345-kV transmission line, originating at Spearville, Kansas., and terminating at Axtell, Nebraska. The project was constructed in three phases. The first and second were developed by ITC Holdings and were completed ahead of schedule in December 2012. The third phase was developed by Nebraska Public Power District and involves the section from the Kansas border to Axtell, Nebraska. KETA stands for the sponsor group, the Kansas Electric Transmission Association. The project enables wind generation interconnections, eliminates congestion and improves reliability. In June of 2012, the first phase of the project, known as the Spearville-Post Rock line, became operational. The official in-service date for completion of the entire KETA project was June 1, 2013, but ITC and Nebraska Public Power District energized the entire line in December 2012. On December 13, 2012, ITC Great Plains LLC placed phase two of the KETA electric transmission project into service, marking the completion of the 345-kV project.