Electric Projects

Estes Park Power and Communications is continually striving to provide the best electrical and broadband service to its customers.

In a dynamic environment like the Rocky Mountains, regular maintenance and upgrades to the electric system are required. Performing regular system maintenance provides opportunities to upgrade and improve on an ongoing basis. Capital improvement projects are continually underway to bring large-scale long-term upgrades to the system. 

Please refer to the Trailblazer Construction Schedule webpage to follow construction progress and to see if service is available in your neighborhood.

WAPA is combining two 16-mile transmission lines to one 16-mile transmission line between the Town of Estes Park and Flatiron Reservoir. Once constructed, the new steel-pole transmission line will carry both existing 115-kilovolt lines currently strung on separate wood H-frame structures. The wood structures will be removed after the construction of the new steel-pole transmission line. Project information, including maps and updates, can be found on WAPA's website.

This rebuild project will:

• ​Reduce the potential for customer service disruption by improving reliable electric delivery​ to the Town of Estes Park
• Install a more resilient steel transmission line and remove aged and deteriorating wood structures
• Halve the transmission corridors and the associated environmental footprint
• Ensure that the transmission line rights of way comply with applicable codes and requirements
• Mitigate wildfire hazards to transmission structures
• Improve maintenance access for routine work and emergencies​

The Power and Communications Division will continue work on a new capital improvement project along Marys Lake Road to build one of two new circuits in the Estes Valley. The new Twin Sisters Circuit continues Power and Communications’ efforts to meet the growing electrical service needs of the population within its service area. This project will consist of replacing existing poles, upgrading transformers, and installing insulated aerial power lines to increase system reliability and power quality, protect wildlife, and reduce wildfire risk from faulting or sparking lines. 

The project area for phase 2 is along Marys Lake Road from Griffith Court to Lower Broadview Rd. Work is anticipated to begin on Jan. 9, 2023, and be complete by mid-summer 2023.

To facilitate this work, crews must access the utility right-of-way along the power lines. Due to the electric system design along Marys Lake Road, access will occasionally be off-road and through customers' yards. Crews will attempt to notify customers before accessing the right-of-way through their property. Work will take place on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., weather permitting.

Other customer impacts will be temporary outages (2-4 hours typically) while crews transfer the overhead lines and transformers to the new poles. These outages will only affect properties fed off the transformer being replaced. Crews will attempt to notify affected customers beforehand.

A map of the project area can be found below. Residents of the project area are encouraged to watch this page for updates. For questions or concerns, contact Tyler Boles, Line Crew Supervisor, at 970-577-3607 or tboles@estes.org.