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 Interstate Reliability Project (Interstate)
View the Siting Application
Project to improve reliability, ease transmission bottlenecks
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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/west and west/east 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. 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 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.
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 several years of extensive studies and review of thousands of possible route combinations to reach the solution of the four proposed routes.
The options were evaluated against the criteria of:
- System reliability, flexibility, and expandability
- Customer and community interests
- Natural environment interests
- Completion in time to serve reliability need
- Cost impact on customers
ISO-NE recently conducted an updated need assessment and reaffirmed Connecticut's immediate need for the Interstate Reliability Project. CL&P has since resumed the permitting and siting process for the Project.
See a video to learn more about why this project is needed:
High-speed 
Dial-up/Modem
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 proposed location of the new 345-kV line can be seen on the map, above right. The project will span both CL&P and National Grid's service areas. The proposed CL&P route begins in Lebanon and continues through Columbia, Coventry, Mansfield, Chaplin, Hampton, Brooklyn, Pomfret, Killingly, Putnam and Thompson, ending at the Connecticut/Rhode Island border. The route would then continue through National Grid's service areas in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, ending in Millbury, Massachusetts.
As part of the Connecticut siting process, CL&P will propose to state regulators that this new transmission line be located in an existing electric utility right-of-way, which is currently occupied by an overhead transmission line. This will minimize cost and the impact on residents and businesses, properties and the environment.
Also as part of the siting process, CL&P will provide alternative routes for the Connecticut Siting Council's consideration. These alternatives are located primarily in the same towns as the proposed route, with the exception of an alternative located in Windham, Connecticut.
Two open houses were scheduled in 2011 re-introduce residents to the proposed project and answer questions. Additionally, consultations with municipal leaders have been, and are continuing to be, held as part of the Municipal Consultation Filing process.
The Siting Application was filed with the Connecticut Siting Council on December 23, 2011, for their consideration. The regulatory approval process is expected to take from 12 to 18 months. Construction is expected to begin in late 2013 or early 2014, pending the project's siting plans and permit applications approvals.
Current plans are for the Interstate Reliability Project to be in service in late 2015.
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 $218 million. The final cost has not been determined because the project is in the 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 employees have no financial interest or ties to any company doing business in the region's wholesale electricity marketplace.
Communications and Public Outreach
In 2011, the project team is reaching out to neighbors living along the proposed route with the goal of getting feedback on the project. During the municipal consultations and open houses related to the Interstate Reliability Project, Northeast Utilities makes 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.
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