Over the next five years, NU plans to invest up to $2.9 billion in upgrades to modernize our transmission system to meet the region's growing energy needs as we prepare for the future. A stronger, more reliable electric grid will provide greater access to new, renewable power sources and will provide New England with the infrastructure that is critical to the region's economic health.

NEEWS Projects

The Greater Springfield Reliability Project, the Interstate Reliability Project and the Central Connecticut Reliability Project are three of four major projects that are part of the New England East-West Solution (NEEWS). Construction is planned to begin in 2010 and will last through 2014. These projects, along with the Rhode Island Reliability Project, will strengthen the reliability of the power grid in New England, improving its efficiency and eliminating costly bottlenecks.

Southwest Connecticut Projects

To improve electric reliability and reduce costly congestion charges to customers in southwest Connecticut, NU successfully completed $1.6 billion in upgrades in 2008, spanning more than 109 miles of the electric grid serving the region. The southwest solution consists of four transmission projects: Bethel-Norwalk, Long Island Replacement Cable, Glenbrook Cables and Middletown-Norwalk.

Together, the four projects won a 2008 Platts Global Energy Award for "Energy Construction of the Year." NU also won the 2009 Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). The Edison Award, EEI's highest honor, recognizes U.S. and international electric companies for outstanding leadership, innovation and advancement of the electric industry. See a short video (548 kbps or 148 kbps, approx. 6 minutes) of the four southwest Connecticut transmission projects.

NU is very proud of this recognition. The selection of NU's transmission projects is a tribute to the teamwork of thousands of NU employees and contractors who have consistently performed safely and set standards for technical innovation, excellence and environmental stewardship.