The electrical connection between the Upper and Lower Peninsula has been restored after an anchor strike severed the connection last month.
The connection was created by six power cables owned by American Transmission Company. Two of the cables were severed, releasing 600 gallons of dielectric fluid into the straits.
Jackie Olson is with American Transmission Company. She said it takes three cables to make a circuit - and the ruptured cables cut both of the ATC’s circuits.
“We found that three cables were still operable so we were able to reconfigure them to make a circuit so essentially we do have one operating power line in the straits.”
Olson said the company deferred power to the UP in order to maintain reliability during the month without a connection.
“The connection that we do have now between the UP and lower Michigan is essential for reliability in the eastern Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula.”
Olson said ATC plans to construct new circuits using solid dielectric insulator to remove any danger of future spills.
In the meantime, a spokesperson for Enbridge Energy, which found three dents in its Line 5 Pipeline after the anchor strike, said the company is developing a plan to reinforce the line around the dents.