New equipment will meet today’s energy needs and support storm restoration
MOSCOW MILLS, Mo. (Sept. 16, 2026) – As Lincoln County has grown over the past three decades, so has the demand for reliable electric service. To help meet the needs of today's customers, Ameren Missouri has started construction on upgrades to its Moscow Mills substation.
The existing substation transformer was installed in the 1990s, when the community's population was about half its current size. Once complete, the new equipment will be better able to support customers during periods of high energy use. The two new, higher-capacity transformers serving local homes and businesses will also provide more flexibility to quickly restore power after an outage.
"Adding this equipment is similar to putting another lane on a highway to help relieve traffic congestion," said Ken Worland, director of Ameren Missouri's northeast Missouri division. "When everyone is using their air conditioners at the same time on a hot afternoon, it creates a lot of demand on the grid. This upgrade will allow energy to flow reliably when and where it is needed."
Crews will also upgrade other substation components designed to restore customers more quickly after an outage. This equipment can automatically detect problems and limit outage impacts by isolating the issue and rerouting power. The upgrade is designed to provide those restoration benefits to approximately 2,300 customers in the Moscow Mills area.
Construction Information
Construction is taking place near the existing substation on Hampel Road. Residents may occasionally see large trucks near the work site and experience periodic lane closures in the vicinity. Ameren Missouri will notify customers of any temporary service impacts. Construction activity is expected to be completed by September 2027.
The Moscow Mills project is part of Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan, an ongoing effort to strengthen and modernize the electric grid. Ameren Missouri has upgraded more than 150 substations to address aging equipment, community growth, or other issues that can affect reliability for customers. To learn more about Ameren Missouri’s reliability improvements through the Smart Energy Plan, visit Ameren.com/Reliability.
About Ameren Missouri
Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for its approximately 1.3 million electric and 135,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company's service area covers approximately 60 counties and more than 500 communities, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit Ameren.com/Missouri or follow us at @AmerenMissouri or Facebook.com/AmerenMissouri.