The proposed power line upgrades will benefit all of us by:

• Enhancing electric reliability.
• Connecting customers to competitively priced and cleaner sources of electric power throughout the region.
• Eliminating millions of dollars in penalties we pay for federally mandated congestion charges each year.
• Increasing the assessed value of the transmission facilities, thereby adding to town revenue and sharing more of the local tax burden.

Bethel-Norwalk Project Improves Reliability in Southwest Connecticut

In 2006, we finished work on our $350 million Bethel to Norwalk 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, improving system reliability and providing our customers in southwest Connecticut with greater access to competitively priced power.

The Bethel-Norwalk project uses the longest length of 345-kilovolt (kV) solid dielectric underground cable in America, making NU a leader in this new, more efficient technology. Learn more in the Bethel-Norwalk Case Study (1.35 MB) . See a short video (548 kbps or 148 kbps, Approx. 7 mins.)  of the Bethel-Norwalk project innovations.

By relieving system bottlenecks and improving delivery of electricity into southwest Connecticut, the new line saved customers nearly $150 million in its first year of service. This project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget by more than $15 million.

Other Benefits

To meet increased growth in New England, we have begun many other projects to support electric reliability. See a slide show of the Frost Bridge substation project in Watertown, Connecticut, showing delivery of 125-ton autotransformers that will improve reliability in the area.

The upgraded transmission lines in other areas will connect customers to modern, state-of-the-art generation plants elsewhere in the region while reducing the need to run older, less efficient power plants in southwest Connecticut.