FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) just dropped plans for a $34 million project that will rebuild and modernize the electric grid serving the east and southeast sides of Fort Wayne. The Eastern Melita Area Improvements Project is designed to cut outages, reduce maintenance headaches, and get the grid ready for the city’s next wave of growth.

The utility says the upgrades are urgently needed because the current system is aging and increasingly strained by new homes, businesses, and factories moving into the area.

Company officials told 21Alive the project will deliver “more reliable electric service for area customers, reduce the need for frequent equipment repairs, and prepare the electric grid for economic growth.��

What the $34 Million Will Actually Build

The work is heavy-duty transmission-level upgrades, not just neighborhood lines. Here’s what residents will see happening between 2027 and early 2029:

• Roughly 5 miles of brand-new 69-kilovolt power lines
• Rebuilding another 3 miles of existing 69-kV lines
• Removing about 5 miles of old transmission lines
• Major upgrades at six substations in the Melita service area

These changes will create stronger pathways for electricity to flow and give the system multiple backup routes if equipment fails or storms hit.

Why Now? Growth Is Outpacing the Old Grid

Fort Wayne’s east side has exploded in the last decade. New warehouses along I-69, expanding manufacturing plants, and thousands of new homes have pushed power demand higher than the current setup was built to handle.

I&M says the existing lines and substations date back decades in some cases. Frequent repairs and temporary fixes have kept the lights on, but the company wants to get ahead of bigger problems before they start.

The upgrades will especially help areas that have seen repeated outages during summer storms or winter ice events.

Community Gets a Say Before Final Route Is Set

I&M is hosting an open house Wednesday, March 19, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at McMillen Park Community Center, 3901 Abbott Street.

There’s no formal presentation; just maps, project engineers, and real estate staff ready to answer questions. Residents can drop in anytime during those hours.

Whatever feedback people give tomorrow night will directly shape the final path of the new power lines.

Construction is scheduled to start in fall 2027 and wrap up by early 2029.

Will Your Bill Go Up?

That’s the question everyone asks. 21Alive reached out to I&M specifically about customer cost impacts. The company has not yet said whether these improvements will trigger a rate increase.

Grid upgrades of this size are normally rolled into multi-year rate cases approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Customers usually see the cost spread out over many years rather than a sudden spike.

The bigger picture: a more reliable grid typically saves money in the long run by avoiding extended outages that hurt homes and businesses.

Fort Wayne keeps growing, and the electric backbone has to grow with it. Tomorrow night’s open house is the community’s chance to see exactly where the new lines might go and have a real say before shovels hit the ground in 2027.

Come ready with questions; the project team will be ready with answers.

What do you think about the planned upgrades? Will they make a difference where you live or work? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.