The City of Lucas, Kansas, is planning significant upgrades to its electric distribution system to accommodate the continued expansion of its largest industrial customer, Great Plains Manufacturing, KPP Energy reported in the July 2026 issue of its Lightning Round newsletter.
KPP Energy staff, in partnership with Utility HelpNet and Pipes Utility Contractors, are working closely with city staff to plan, design, and implement improvements to a primary distribution feeder serving the manufacturing facility, KPP Energy noted.
As part of its expansion, Great Plains Manufacturing plans to add approximately 500 to 750 kW of new HVAC load to support increased production capacity.
To reliably serve this additional demand, the city will need to upgrade portions of its electric distribution infrastructure.
KPP Energy said that the proposed improvements include:
- Reconductoring a primary distribution feeder serving the facility.
- Replacing and upgrading distribution poles along the feeder route.
- Upgrading one of the two distribution transformers serving the manufacturing plant to provide additional capacity and maintain system reliability.
To support the project, KPP Energy completed a comprehensive distribution feeder analysis study that evaluated the existing system, identified capacity constraints, and provided recommendations for the infrastructure improvements necessary to accommodate the anticipated load growth.
"These upgrades will enhance the reliability and capacity of the City’s electric system while supporting the continued growth and long-term success of one of Lucas’s largest employers," KPP Energy noted.
KPP Energy is a Kansas joint action agency that provides electricity and innovative power solutions to 24 Kansas communities.
