Red Oak council delays decision on MidAmerican overhead transmission line

The Red Oak City Council has delayed action on a MidAmerican Energy proposal that would replace a failed underground transmission line in downtown Red Oak with a new overhead line.

MidAmerican’s existing 69-kilovolt transmission cable extends approximately 800 feet between East Washington Avenue and East Reed Street. The cable is more than 50 years old and failed in August 2025.

Following multiple repair attempts and additional testing, MidAmerican determined the failure was within the underground cable rather than at its termination points.

The company said replacing the cable inside the existing concrete-encased duct bank may not be possible because the conduits could be obstructed by water, mud or debris and no spare conduits are available.

MidAmerican presented two potential solutions. Rebuilding the underground system would require construction of a new concrete-encased duct bank and open-trench excavation through the downtown corridor. The company estimated that work could take one to two months and affect businesses, parking, traffic, pedestrians and other utilities.

The alternative would be to abandon the failed underground cable and install an overhead transmission line along substantially the same route. The project would use weathering-steel poles that would generally replace existing streetlight poles, with the streetlights transferred to the new structures.

MidAmerican said the overhead project could be completed in several days and at any time of the year. The underground alternative would need to be completed when the ground was not frozen.

Mayor Tim Fridolph said the project would result in essentially no net increase in the total number of poles. MidAmerican proposed adding two poles while removing or replacing two others.

Councilmember Jeanice Lester recommended that the council delay its vote so the public would have more time to learn about the proposal and contact elected officials. The council tabled Resolution 2026-69, with the proposal expected to return for consideration at its August 3 meeting.

The proposed route would begin near the MidAmerican substation at First Street and Washington Avenue. It would continue north near the law enforcement center, the courthouse and the Elks Lodge before connecting with existing overhead facilities north of Reed Street.