City Utilities will receive $3 million in state funding to replace aging electric infrastructure in Springfield, an investment aimed at reducing outages and improving reliability across the utility system.
The grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will help replace older utility poles and transformers, according to a community announcement. City Utilities will contribute a required local match of $1,473,900, bringing the total project investment to $4,473,900.
The utility plans to begin work next year, replacing 135 utility poles and transformers across Springfield. Officials said in the announcement that areas with a higher frequency of outages will receive priority.
Over the next four years, the project is expected to replace
about 531 utility poles and transformers.
City Utilities said in the announcement that replacing aging equipment before it fails can reduce the likelihood of unexpected service interruptions. Older utility poles are more vulnerable to damage during high-wind events, while newer transformers can be repaired more quickly when problems occur, according to the announcement.
“Proactively replacing aging infrastructure is not only more reliable, but it’s also more cost-effective,” Dwayne Fulk, president-CEO of City Utilities, said in the announcement. “This grant allows us to continue to deliver strong value for the essential services that power our community every day.”
Project adds to other reliability investments
The state-funded project comes in addition to nearly $10 million that City Utilities has budgeted for tree trimming and pole replacement during fiscal year 2026.
The combined investments are intended to strengthen the electric system while supporting reliability and safety efforts throughout Springfield, according to the announcement.
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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield CU wins funding to replace aging electric equipment
