NOVI, Mich., July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ITC Great Plains, LLC, in conjunction with Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), has placed its Hugo-Valliant high-voltage electric transmission line and substation project into service in southeastern Oklahoma. The 18-mile, 345,000-volt (345 kV) line and 345 kV/138 kV substation were implemented to reduce system congestion, provide more efficient and cost-effective transmission of energy and increase access to a broader range of generation resources. The substation, near WFEC's Hugo power plant, provides a link to the WFEC 138 kV transmission system.

"ITC is proud to complete our first Oklahoma transmission project to benefit the state and the region," said Terry S. Harvill, Vice President of ITC Grid Development. "As evidence of our focus on operational excellence, we recently earned federal certification as a Transmission Operator in the Southwest Power Pool region. This allows ITC to operate new projects as they are placed into service. Our ability to develop transmission infrastructure projects and operate them in a manner that complies with stringent federal requirements is a critical aspect of our overall development strategy."

ITC's investment in a new high-voltage infrastructure in the Southwest Power Pool region is founded upon open access to the grid and collaboration with key energy stakeholders. The partnership with WFEC was crucial to the successful development of the Hugo-Valliant project.

"We appreciate the cooperative working relationship that developed between Western Farmers Electric Cooperative and ITC over the course of the Hugo-Valliant project," Harvill noted. "It reinforces the value of our partnership approach in the SPP region."

"Completion of the ITC 345 kV project should reduce transmission congestion, improve reliability and reinforce long-term economics of the Hugo Plant," said Gary Roulet, CEO of WFEC. "Access to regional generation resources should positively benefit consumer electric bills."

Harvill added that ITC is very pleased with the progress the company has made with its development projects and is excited to see its first projects in this region go into service for the benefit of customers in the SPP region.

Note to editors: Click [ here ] to download high-resolution photos or [ here ] for HD video of the Hugo-Valliant project.

About the Hugo-Valliant Project

The Hugo-Valliant Project is an approximately 18-mile, 345,000 volt transmission line that runs from a new substation near the Hugo power plant west of Fort Towson, Oklahoma, to an existing substation southeast of Valliant. It is part of a larger transmission line project being implemented to reduce system congestion, provide more efficient and cost-effective transmission of energy and increase access to a broader range of generation resources. For more information on the Hugo-Valliant project, go to [ http://www.itctransco.com/projects/current/itcgreatplains.html ].

About ITC Great Plains

ITC Great Plains, LLC is a transmission-only utility with authority to construct, own, operate and maintain a regulated, high-voltage transmission system in the Southwest Power Pool region. Based in Topeka, Kansas, ITC Great Plains operates more than 100 circuit miles of transmission lines in Kansas and Oklahoma. ITC Great Plains is a subsidiary of ITC Grid Development, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electric transmission company. For more information, please visit [ http://www.itctransco.com ].

About ITC Holdings Corp.

ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: [ ITC ]) is the nation's largest independent electric transmission company. Based in Novi, Michigan, ITC invests in the electric transmission grid to improve reliability, expand access to markets, lower the overall cost of delivered energy and allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. ITC's regulated operating subsidiaries include ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains. Through these subsidiaries, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission facilities in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, serving a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along 15,000 circuit miles of transmission line. Through ITC Grid Development and its subsidiaries, the company also focuses on expansion in areas where significant transmission system improvements are needed. For more information, please visit ITC's website at [ www.itc-holdings.com ]. (itc-ITC)

SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp.

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ITC Great Plains Energizes Hugo-Valliant Transmission Line and Substation in Southeastern Oklahoma

ITC Great Plains Energizes Hugo-Valliant Transmission Line and Substation in Southeastern Oklahoma