Stronger grid means increased reliability, lower energy costs

Northeast Utilities (NU) is enhancing the reliability of the electric grid with a number of significant construction projects involving high-voltage transmission lines in Connecticut, western Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Learn more about NU Transmission's recent projects to strengthen the region's electric grid.

These projects to improve the transmission system are designed to meet growing energy needs for many years while connecting our customers to clean, competitively priced power elsewhere in the region.

NU is leading the way in building the right solutions at the right time. These projects not only improve reliability, but they also reduce existing transmission congestion and related costs. The power line upgrades provide benefits for all of us.

*Source: Edison Electric Institute — the association of U.S. shareholder – owned electric companies, industry associates, and international affiliates worldwide.

Bethel-Norwalk project makes grid more secure and efficient

NU's Bethel-Norwalk project in Connecticut, completed in 2006, saved customers nearly $150 million in its first year of service. One of the largest transmission projects recently completed in the country, this was a highly innovative project, utilizing both overhead and underground construction.

The Bethel-Norwalk project uses the longest length of 345-kilovolt (kV) solid dialectric 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) . The Bethel-Norwalk project was recently honored by Utility Automation & Engineering T& D Magazine as its 2006 Project of the Year.

See a short video (512 kbps, Approx. 5 mins, 23 secs.)  of the Bethel-Norwalk project innovations.

NU's Transmission projects help ease electric system bottlenecks

We are also constructing three other major transmission projects in southwest Connecticut that will help resolve reliability challenges and costly congestion in this region. Work is under way on the 18-town Middletown-Norwalk project, the Glenbrook Cables project and the Long Island Replacement Cable.

NU is a leader in using an innovative technology to replace critical connectors on more than 100 miles of transmission lines in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. This state-of-the-art splicing technology is being used to replace hundreds of connectors installed more than 40 years ago. The work is being done by highly trained crews while lines are energized at 345-kV to ensure that the flow of electricity to homes and businesses is not interrupted. See a short video of the imploding splice technology (548 kbps; 3 mins., 39 secs.).

Other new projects, including the Central Connecticut Reliability Project, the Greater Springfield Reliability Project and the Interstate Reliability Project are in the early design and development stage. These projects, part of the New England East-West Solution, are crucial to meeting regional and national reliability standards.

Stronger grid helps reliability, the economy and the environment.

When these projects are placed into service, the region will see improved reliability, increased capacity to transmission-constrained areas, reduced congestion and related costs and greater access to competitively priced generation. There will also be environmental benefits as a result of a decrease in air emissions due to the reduced operation of less-efficient power plants.