FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb 28 2014 12:00:00:000AM
News Media Contact: Joseph Barrios, (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com

TEP Transmission Line Project Will Improve Service Reliability

Tucson, Ariz. — Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will begin work this month on construction of a new transmission line that will strengthen electrical system reliability by linking the DeMoss-Petrie (DMP) Substation, located near Interstate 10 and West Grant Road, to the Tucson Substation, located near West 5th Street and North 11th Avenue.

The new 138-kilovolt (kV) line will help to reduce the frequency and duration of electrical service outages, help meet future needs of customers and provide additional capacity for TEP substations on Tucson’s west side. Construction for the $4.5 million project is expected to be completed this summer.

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the project in March 2011. As part of the application process, TEP conducted several natural, cultural and visual studies and mailed project newsletter updates to thousands of nearby property owners and residents. TEP sponsored open house meetings and worked extensively with neighbors, government representatives and members of other community groups to design the line’s route.

From the DMP substation, the line will travel south along the east side of Interstate 10 to East Speedway Boulevard, where it will cross west over the interstate and continue south to St. Mary’s Road. From there, the line will continue east and terminate at the Tucson Substation.

Once the project is completed, drought-tolerant vegetation will be used for landscape restoration. Some traffic control restrictions may be required during the construction process.

TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 413,000 customers in Southern Arizona. To learn more about the company, visit tep.com. For more information about TEP’s parent company, UNS Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS), visit uns.com.