|
 Interstate Reliability Project (Interstate)
Project to improve reliability, ease transmission bottlenecks
 |
| Click Map to Enlarge |
The Interstate Reliability Project is one of four major transmission projects that are part of the New England East-West Solution (NEEWS).
All four projects are needed to solve existing problems that threaten the transmission system's ability to meet national and regional reliability standards and assure the adequacy and availability of electric power.
The Interstate Reliability Project will address weaknesses in the east to west transmission of power across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Providing more direct routes between power sources and eastern Connecticut, and increasing the overall capacity of the transmission system, will mean that access to cleaner, competitively priced power will be routinely possible. The project also includes upgrades to CL&Ps Card Street substation in Lebanon, providing a stronger transmission connection to the rest of Connecticut.
Together, the four NEEWS projects will strengthen the reliability of the power grid in New England - improving its efficiency and eliminating crippling and costly bottlenecks.
Project Need and Benefits
A strong transmission grid is vital to the region's safety, security and economic prosperity. Presently, the paths for moving power from east to west are limited in southern New England, including northeastern Connecticut. The Interstate Reliability Project will improve these power flows and add another path for moving power among Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts from other New England states. In this way, it will:
- Ensure reliability -- so the power's there when you need it;
- Help reduce energy costs; and, in turn,
- Strengthen the area's economy.
This 345-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage project works with three similar projects, including the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, the Central Connecticut Reliability Project and the Rhode Island Reliability Project, to improve the movement of electricity within New England.
Why This Project?
ISO-New England is the organization responsible for making sure there is a reliable flow of power in New England. It is the organization that led the system planning that eventually recognized the Interstate Reliability Project, the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, the Central Connecticut Reliability Project and the Rhode Island Reliability Project as the upgrades that best solved the problems identified in southern New England. The four projects comprise what is called the New England East-West Solution.
This project identification process took five years of extensive studies and reviewed thousands of possible route combinations, successively eliminating projects before focusing on the four proposed routes.
The options were evaluated against the criteria of:
- System flexibility and expandability
- Customer and community interests
- Natural environment interests
- Completion in time to serve need
- Cost impact on customers
Proposed Route, Regulatory Review and Timing
The Interstate Reliability Project is a proposed 345-kV high-voltage transmission line that will strengthen the interstate transfer of electricity across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The project also includes a substation upgrade and new and replacement 345-kV high-voltage segments on a piece of the right-of-way south of the substation.
The proposed location of the new 345-kV line can be seen on the map, above right. The proposed CL&P route will pass through Thompson at the Connecticut/Rhode Island border, and traverse through Putnam, Killingly, Pomfret, Brooklyn, Hampton, Chaplin, Mansfield, Coventry and Columbia, and end in Lebanon.
Four open houses have been held to introduce residents to the proposed project and answer questions. These open houses were made available to residents of Brooklyn, Hampton and Pomfret; Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Lebanon and Windham (a "close proximity" town); Mansfield; and Killingly, Putnam and Thompson. Additionally, consultations with municipal leaders have been, and are continuing to be, held in advance of the formal filing for approval of the project with the Connecticut Siting Council.
Once the filing has been made, the regulatory approval process is expected to take from 12 to 18 months. Construction is expected to begin in 2012, pending the project's siting plans and permit applications approvals.
How Does the System Work?
New England's transmission lines are interconnected to deliver electricity from power plants to customers across the region. Private companies sell power into a regional competitive electricity market. Regulated companies like Northeast Utilities and National Grid own and operate the regional transmission system, which in total is run by ISO-New England. Substations change the "bulk" electricity being delivered by the transmission system to a lower voltage to be distributed (on lower voltage lines) to homes, businesses and other users of electricity.
A strong 345-kV bulk power system ensures that power can be efficiently and economically moved longer distances from power sources (including renewable sources) to where it's needed. See a diagram showing how the system works.
Costs
The preliminary cost estimate for the Interstate Reliability Project is $250 million. The final cost has not been determined because the project is in the early design stage and has not yet been through the state siting process. Changes to the design may occur during the siting process. Once the siting process is complete, the design will be finalized and the cost re-estimated.
Regulatory agencies ensure that electric utilities act in the public interest to keep rates as low as possible for all customers. All of our projects are carefully scrutinized by regulatory agencies to make sure that we are making prudent investments to maintain reliability with minimal environmental impact and at the lowest reasonable cost.
New England states have agreed to share the costs of projects that provide regional benefit. There may be instances where project costs over and above feasible least-cost solutions are paid by consumers at the state or local level.
ISO-New England Planning Process
ISO-New England is authorized by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate New England's bulk power system, administer the regional competitive wholesale electricity markets, and oversee a comprehensive regional system planning process.
To effectively carry out its charge, ISO-New England's Board of Directors and 400 employees have no financial interest or ties to any company doing business in the region's wholesale electricity marketplace.
Communications and Public Outreach
During the municipal consultations and open houses related to the Interstate Reliability Project, Northeast Utilities made a concerted effort to engage town officials, residents and businesses to inform them, answer questions and listen to concerns about the project. As work proceeds we continue to post news releases, meeting schedules and public presentations, along with notice of opportunities for public input. For more information, contact the Interstate Reliability Project.
|
Printer Friendly Page