Upgraded equipment boosts capacity for homes, farms and businesses in southeast Missouri
SIKESTON, Mo. (Sept. 16, 2026) – Ameren Missouri has energized a new substation in Scott County, supporting reliability and added electric capacity as farmers across southeast Missouri prepare for the fall harvest and grain-drying season.
The new substation, located between Benton and Sikeston along Highway 61, replaces equipment that had served the area for more than 60 years. The upgrade supports reliable service for more than 1,000 homes, farms and businesses and provides additional capacity for agricultural energy needs, including grain bins and other equipment.
“Harvest is one of the most important and demanding times of the year for southeast Missouri farmers,” said Russ Burger, director of Ameren Missouri’s southeast Missouri division. “By bringing this new substation online, we are helping ensure local producers have the reliable energy and added capacity they need to keep their operations running.”
Grain drying is a critical post-harvest step, particularly during humid fall conditions. Drying equipment relies on electricity to operate fans, motors and grain-handling systems, making dependable electric service especially important.
The new substation includes smart switch technology that can quickly detect and isolate problems, reducing the impact of outages and restoring customers. Related power line improvements near the substation also include stronger composite poles designed to limit cascading damage during severe weather.
“This investment is about today’s needs and the future of agriculture in southeast Missouri,” said state Sen. Jamie Burger, R-Benton. “Reliable energy supports our farmers, strengthens the local economy and helps make continued growth possible.”
Major components of the substation were manufactured in Missouri, including switchgear produced by nVent in Fulton and a transformer built by WEG Transformers USA in Washington.
The project is part of Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan, an ongoing effort to strengthen and modernize the electric grid. Through the plan, Ameren Missouri has upgraded nearly 150 substations and storm-hardened more than 300 miles of overhead power lines across the state, including recent projects in southeast Missouri communities such as Cape Girardeau and Scott City.
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.