CHARLESTON, W.Va., March 25, 2026 – Appalachian Power Company (APCo) today announced a proposed line route for its 69-kilovolt (kV) Bancroft-Milton Transmission Line Rebuild Project. APCo determined the route after reviewing input from landowners and community members following the project announcement and four public open houses in 2024 and 2025.
Initially, the project included routes that crossed the Meeks Mountain Trails, but after extensive collaboration with the local community, all Meeks Mountain route options were removed.
“This is exactly how this process should work,” said Amanda DeHaven, Outreach Specialist for the project. “The goal is to always include the community in our decision-making process to help us build the best project, while also keeping costs down for customers.”
The project involves rebuilding approximately 20 miles of transmission line in Cabell and Putnam counties and replacing wooden poles with steel structures. The proposed route starts just east of the Kanawha River at the Bancroft Substation in Winfield, heads northwest to the Winfield Hydro Substation, then turns south toward Teays Valley. From there, it leaves the existing transmission right-of-way to avoid the Meeks Mountain Trails, continues west through Hurricane and Culloden, and ends at the Milton Substation on James River Turnpike.
These infrastructure improvements are intended to enhance service reliability for customers and support local economic growth. Customer affordability remains critical as the project moves into the planning and execution phase. APCo plans to file an application for project approval with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) later this year. If approved, construction is expected to begin in summer 2028 and conclude by spring 2031.
OR Colan, APCo’s right-of-way agent for the project, will contact directly affected landowners to discuss preliminary field work and property easements for the safe construction, operation and maintenance of the new power lines.
For a detailed map of the proposed route, visit the project website at AppalachianPower.com/Bancroft-Milton.