2012 Long-Range Transmission Plan

Electric transmission lines provide the transport highways to move electricity from generation sources to electric utilities that service individual homes and businesses. Maintaining a reliable transmission system involves careful long-range planning. Every three years, VELCO, the owner and operator of Vermont's transmission system must publish a three-year update of its 20-year Vermont Long-Range Transmission Plan. The plan identifies reliability concerns and the transmission alternatives to address those concerns. The Plan also serves as the basis for considering whether alternatives, including new generation and energy efficiency, can meet Vermont's reliability needs. It also provides information about transmission projects that may be needed to maintain grid reliability. Following two public drafts and more than six months of input, VELCO filed with the Public Service Board and published the 2012 update of the Vermont Long-Range Transmission Plan on June 29, 2012.

Download the 2012 Plan

Print copies of the Plan may be requested through the online form or by phone to Shana Duval (802) 770-6381.

High-level summary of the 2012 Plan's conclusions

The Plan identifies four regional groupings of reliability needs on Vermont’s high-voltage, bulk electric system (115 kV and above). Details begin on Plan page 19.

Area & transmission solution

Estimated cost and (~VT share if eligible for regional cost sharing)

Can an NTA potentially solve the problem?

Southeast Vermont
· Rebuild Vermont portion of the Vernon to Northfield 345 kV line, as part of a larger VT/NH/MA set of upgrades.

$6M
($.24K)

No

Connecticut River Valley
· Construct second 115 kV line between Coolidge and Ascutney.

$93M
($3.7M)

No

Central Vermont
· Construction of a second 345 kV line between Coolidge and West Rutland.

$157M
($6.3M)

Yes

Northwest Vermont
·   Rebuilding the West Rutland to Middlebury 115 kV line
·   Rebuilding the New Haven to Williston 115 kV line
·   Rebuilding the Williston to Tafts Corner 115 kV line

$221M
($8.8M)

Yes

Vermont utilities are currently conducting an in-depth analysis of potential non-transmission alternatives to address the Central and Northwest Vermont reliability issues.

Plan Wires Art

The Public Outreach for The 2012 Long-Range Plan
Public Review Draft

In April, May and June, 2012, VELCO conducted four public forums around Vermont and made presentations to Regional and Local Planning Commissions. A transcript of the public forums is available for download.