SMOKY HILLS
SubstationColorado · TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC
At a glance
SMOKY HILLS is an electric transmission substation in Colorado, on TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC's transmission network. It is classified as sub-transmission (115 kv) and connects 3 transmission lines. Substation proximity is one of the strongest speed-to-power signals for siting a datacenter — interconnection distance to an energized, high-voltage bus is often the binding constraint on time-to-energization.
Voltage & classification
Connected transmission lines
Lines terminating at or passing through this substation, by HIFLD line ID, highest voltage first.
| Line ID | Voltage | Owner | Status | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #201895 | 115 kV | TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC | — | 11.9 mi |
| #201946 | 115 kV | TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC | — | 6.1 mi |
| #201947 | 115 kV | TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC | — | 3.0 mi |
Nearby datacenter candidate sites
Scored candidate sites within roughly 25 miles of SMOKY HILLS, ranked by DC Readiness. Sites this close to an energized substation carry a strong speed-to-power advantage.
| Site | Type | State | County | Voltage | Capacity | Queue wait | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN201500 | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 4.3 yrs | 59.0 |
| LANDSMAN CREEK | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 4.3 yrs | 58.9 |
| UNKNOWN203966 | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 4.3 yrs | 54.8 |
| UNKNOWN203965 | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 4.3 yrs | 54.8 |
| UNKNOWN203963 | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 4.3 yrs | 53.9 |
| WAANIBE | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 4.3 yrs | 53.8 |
| SMOKY HILLS | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 4.3 yrs | 53.8 |
| UNKNOWN203970 | Substation-Adjacent | CO | Kit Carson County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 4.3 yrs | 53.8 |
How does SMOKY HILLS compare with other substations in Colorado?
Colorado has 1,214 substation records in HIFLD, of which 400 carry a station name; the rest are unnamed tap points, risers and line ends. 206 named substations in the state are in SMOKY HILLS's 115–229 kV band (52% of named stations). 148 sit in a higher band. 20 named substations in Colorado operate at 345 kV or above. The highest voltage recorded in the state is 345 kV, and the state median is 115 kV.
Who owns the transmission lines at SMOKY HILLS?
The 3 connected lines listed above are owned by TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC. Line voltages range from 115 kV to 115 kV. Their combined recorded length is about 21 miles.
How do candidate sites near SMOKY HILLS score?
The 8 highest-scoring candidate sites within about 25 miles range from 54 to 59 on the 0–100 DC Readiness scale. They fall in Kit Carson County. The Colorado average across 3,428 scored sites is 50.6. 899 of those Colorado sites are classed as substation sites (candidate locations generated at an existing substation).
Frequently asked questions
What voltage is SMOKY HILLS substation?
SMOKY HILLS has a maximum voltage of 115 kV. That places it in the 115–229 kV band. The median named US substation in this dataset is 115 kV, so SMOKY HILLS is at the national midpoint.
How many transmission lines connect to SMOKY HILLS substation?
3 transmission lines terminate at or pass through SMOKY HILLS in the HIFLD line data. The connected lines listed here run at 115 kV. Together the listed lines cover about 21 miles.
Who owns SMOKY HILLS substation?
HIFLD does not publish substation owners directly. Most of the transmission lines that end at SMOKY HILLS belong to TRI-STATE G & T ASSN, INC. GridCensus derives this from the line data, so confirm ownership with the utility for anything contractual.
Where is SMOKY HILLS substation located?
SMOKY HILLS is in Colorado at 39.1289, -102.2402. The datacenter candidate sites closest to it are in Kit Carson County.
Are there datacenter candidate sites near SMOKY HILLS substation?
GridCensus lists at least 8 scored candidate sites within roughly 25 miles of SMOKY HILLS. The highest-scoring is UNKNOWN201500 at 59/100. Across Colorado, the average DC Readiness score is 50.6.
Other 115 kV substations in Colorado
- WEST STATION· 12 lines
- FLATIRON· 8 lines
- STORY· 8 lines
- BAYFIELD· 7 lines
- CLIMAX· 7 lines
- MANCHIEF· 6 lines
- MARTIN DRAKE· 6 lines
- NORTH· 6 lines
- All named substations in Colorado· 400 stations
- Datacenter candidate sites in Colorado· 3,428 sites
- Brownfield and retired plant sites in Colorado
- Substations by state
About this data
Source: HIFLD Electric Substations and Transmission Lines (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), as published June 29, 2026. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: GridCensus, “SMOKY HILLS substation, Colorado”, https://gridcensus.com/substations/colorado/smoky-hills-f1fcd62b (data as of June 29, 2026).
Dataset updated . Screening estimates derived from public data sources.
Substation attributes are derived from public HIFLD / EIA infrastructure data and may lag real-world upgrades or retirements. Voltage and connected-line counts are screening figures — confirm available capacity and interconnection terms directly with the operating utility and ISO.
Go deeper than the public screen
Every site and score for SMOKY HILLS substation, Colorado is free to browse. Pro adds Watchtower on 25 sites, alerts when new candidate sites, datacenters or interconnection-queue requests appear in your markets, score and capacity history, and CSV export. Enterprise adds team seats, weekly data files for all 147,272 sites, the REST API and an MCP server for AI tools.