FORT WAYNE, IN, March 17, 2026 – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) plans to improve reliability through an approximately $34 million investment to upgrade the electric transmission network serving customers in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Eastern Melita Area Improvements Project involves:
- Building about 5 miles of 69-kilovolt (kV) power lines
- Rebuilding about 3 miles of 69-kV power lines
- Removing about 5 miles of transmission lines
- Upgrading 6 substations:
- Lincoln Substation, located off State Route 930 at Estella Avenue
- Melita Substation, located at the intersection of Melita Street and Webster Street
- Anthony Substation, located at the intersection of South Anthony Boulevard and Lanternier Street
- TRFT Three Rivers Water Filtration Switch, located off Griswold Drive
- Omnisource Substation, located off East Washington Boulevard near South Coliseum Boulevard
- Wet Weather Pumping Station (WWPS) Stormwater, located off Dwenger Avenue
- INCA Tap Switch, located between Anthony and Lincoln Substations
The improvements help ensure reliable electric service for area customers, reduce the need for frequent equipment repairs and prepare the electric grid for economic growth.
I&M invites community members and landowners impacted by the project to learn more at an upcoming open house. The public event takes place on Thursday, March 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the McMillen Park Community Center, located at 3901 Abbott Street, Fort Wayne, IN 48806.
Since there’s no formal presentation, attendees can arrive at any time during the Open House to review maps and talk with project team members. Input gathered from the open house helps the project team determine the final route.
I&M expects construction to begin Fall 2027 and conclude by Early 2029. For more project information and the latest project updates, please visit http://www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/EasternMelita where translation options are available in various languages.
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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, with approximately 2,000 employees serving more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation.
At American Electric Power (AEP), based in Columbus, Ohio, we understand that our customers and communities depend on safe, reliable and affordable power. Our nearly 17,000 employees operate and maintain more than 40,000 miles of transmission lines, the nation's largest electric transmission system and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP is also one of the nation's largest electricity producers with nearly 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including approximately 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy.
AEP is investing $43 billion over the next five years to make the electric grid cleaner and more reliable. We are on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and have a goal to achieve net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement and inclusion. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com
News releases and other information about I&M are available at IndianaMichiganPower.com