Connections is the theme of our 2012 annual report, available at our website.     

The 32-mile, 345-kilovolt Rockdale-West Middleton Project in Dane County was placed in service in February. The project was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in 2009 at a cost of up to $219 million, with a scheduled in-service date of mid-2013. While final costs are still being calculated, the estimate is about $152 million. The project team reaped the benefits of using a holistic approach to project planning and several innovative techniques pioneered on this project met specific challenges that resulted in significant cost and time savings.    

The Wisconsin PSC approved our Western Milwaukee County Electric Reliability Project, noting that approval "represents [the PSC's] commitment to finding a balance between electric customers, the ratepayers and landowners affected by the project." The two new transmission lines and substation are needed to respond to the area's growing electric needs and to support the critical nature of the Level 1 trauma centers located within the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center complex.

A regulatory application was filed with the PSC seeking permission to rebuild 58 miles of 138-kV lines in portions of Waukesha, Jefferson, Dodge and Washington counties. The Quad County Electric Reliability Project is needed to replace aging equipment near the end of its lifespan. If approved, we anticipate construction will start in fall 2014 with a targeted in-service date of spring 2017. The estimated cost of the project is $64 million.

Bay Lake project open houses were held this month and also are scheduled for June. As currently proposed, the project includes a 345-kV line and a 138-kV line from an expanded North Appleton Substation in Outagamie County to our Morgan Substation in Oconto County. The project also includes a 138-kV line between the Holmes Substation in Menominee County, Mich., and the Old Mead Road Substation in Escanaba, Mich.

We kicked off public outreach activities for our Spring Valley-North Lake Geneva project in January. More than 350 people braved frigid temperatures and snow to learn about our plans for a new 25-mile, 138-kV line that will run from western Kenosha County to southern Walworth County. A new substation also is needed; existing facilities are inadequate to serve customers if a power outage occurs in the vicinity. The system lacks redundancy, making it difficult to take components out of service for maintenance. Routing and siting activities will continue throughout spring and summer, with a second round of open houses slated for fall.

While a serious burn requires prompt medical attention, do you know how to treat a minor burn at home or work? Here are a few tips:

• First, hold it under cold, running water for 10 to 15 minutes. If running water is not available, immerse the burn in cold water or cover it with cold compresses. DO NOT put ice directly against the burn; direct contact with ice can cause frostbite and more damage.
• Do not apply butter or oil to the burn. Butter and oil will trap heat in the damaged tissues, which can potentially cause more damage and increase your chance of developing an infection.
• Once the burn has cooled, apply lotion to the area. Lotion may soothe any discomfort and also will prevent dryness.
• Cover it with a sterile gauze bandage. Wrap it loosely to avoid putting too much pressure on the wound.
• If you develop blisters, do not break them - they will resolve on their own. If they break on their own, you can wash the area with water and plain soap, dry the area, then apply antibiotic ointment and a loosely wrapped sterile gauze bandage. It is fine to trim off dead skin from popped blisters.
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen if you have pain.

Click here for more information on first, second and third degree burns.