Rutland, VT – Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc. (“VELCO”) and Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (“CVPS”) today filed a petition with the Vermont Public Service Board that outlines multiple strategies to support electric system reliability. The strategies are consistent with recommendations that resulted from an unprecedented public outreach process. The companies propose to: construct a 51-mile transmission line project through an existing right-of-way with related substations; defer a 49-mile transmission line; and pursue nontransmission alternatives to enhance local reliability, through a newly created planning committee established by the Board.
“The project we are pursuing is better thanks to the ideas, commitment and work of dozens if not hundreds of Vermonters,” said VELCO President and CEO John J. Donleavy. “This filing honors our promise to ensure our proposal reflects as much as possible community values and priorities.”
CVPS President and CEO Robert H. Young said the public engagement process was extremely valuable and reflects the company’s work to cost-effectively meet customer needs in a manner they can support.
“We heard a lot from customers about non-transmission alternatives, including energy efficiency and localized generation, as well as support for a robust transmission system,” Young said. “This filing addresses all those areas in a comprehensive, thoughtful way.”
To address demonstrated regional reliability problems, the Southern Loop project proposes that VELCO install a second 51-mile, 345 kV transmission line next to the existing line that runs between Vernon and VELCO’s Coolidge Substation in Cavendish, Vermont, together with a new substation at Vernon and additional equipment at the Coolidge Substation. The current project cost estimate for this “Coolidge Connector” line is in the $265 to $329 million range with Vermont’s share at about $34 to $42 million, numbers that will vary depending on timing of approval, regulatory requirements, construction schedule and market conditions.
In addition to project components already being deferred, the companies had engaged significant analyses to determine the likelihood of also deferring this line. Those analyses, coupled with the most current operational data available, document that there is no viable alternative.
This additional information, however, will be shared with a new entity created and ordered by the PSB to ensure thorough, timely and fair consideration of non-transmission alternatives. The Vermont System Planning Committee is comprised of all of Vermont’s utilities, Efficiency Vermont, the Department of Public Service, and three members of the public. The VSPC had its first meeting in October.
To address existing local reliability problems on the CVPS system, the project also includes a new substation in Newfane and approximately 1 mile of new 345 kV line that would connect the proposed substation to the proposed Vernon-to-Cavendish line.
To defer approximately 49 miles of 115 kV transmission line between Dummerston and Bennington via Stratton, CVPS proposes several non-transmission alternatives. In Thursday’s filing, CVPS proposes to implement incremental demand side management and encourage the development of electricity generation on customer sites in the area. The company, in an earlier filing, also proposed installation of synchronous condensers along the Southern Loop to provide voltage support.