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HUGO- Oklahoma Gas and Electric officials have reported the company plans to build a high-voltage transmission line across the northern portion of Choctaw County.

OGE officials say the line is necessary to give the company and the region access to the southwest power pool, which would provide for electrical power to be both imported and exported into southeast Oklahoma.

The proposed line would be approximately 99 miles long, extending from Ardmore to Choctaw County. The 345Kv line would be owned by OGE. It's estimated cost of construction, which includes right-of-way acquisition, would be approximately $200 million dollars.

OGE has the right of eminent domain in the state of Oklahoma, which means they have the ability to build the line without state or landowner approval. According to a spokesperson for OGE, Brian Alford, one corridor has been identified upon which the line will be constructed. The company is in the final process, he reports, of narrowing specific parcels of land within that corridor for acquisition of the line.

Alford said public hearings would be held to give citizens an opportunity to pose questions about the proposed line. He added that current projections are for the construction of the line to begin in late 2010, conclude in early 2011 and be operational in 2012.

OGE Energy Corp. is based in Oklahoma City. They can be reached at 405.553.3187.