Certificate of Public Good

The approval process for the Lamoille Transmission Upgrade Project is often referred to as a "Section 248 proceeding." This refers to Title 30 Vermont Statutes Section 248, which sets the criteria for granting of a "Certificate of Public Good" or CPG. A CPG is required for all new gas and electric purchases, investments, and facilities, including transmission upgrades. The Public Service Board (PSB) evaluates a proposed project to determine whether it serves the “general good of the state.” The public good is defined by a series of factors related to the need for the project and the impact it will have. If after consideration of these factors the PSB finds that the project will serve the general good of the state, it issues a CPG.

To receive a Certificate of Public Good for an electrical utility transmission project the petitioners must show:

• Orderly development of the region: The project will not unduly interfere with the orderly development in the region with due consideration having been given to the recommendations of the municipal and regional planning commissions.

• Need: The project will meet the need for present and future demand for service, which could not otherwise be met through a more cost-effective method.

• Reliability: The project will not adversely affect system stability and reliability.

• Economic benefit: The proposal will result in an economic benefit to the state and its residents.

• Aesthetics, historic sites, air and water purity, natural environment and public health and safety: The proposal will not have an undue adverse effect on aesthetic, historic sites, air and water purity, the natural environment, and the public health and safety.

• Least cost: The construction is consistent with the principles for resource selection expressed in the company’s least cost integrated plan.

• Electric energy plan: The proposal is in compliance with the State Electric Energy Plan approved by DPS.

• Resource waters: The proposal does not involve a transmission facility that has an undue adverse effect on any body of water that has been designated by the Water Resources Board as an "outstanding resource water."

DOCKET 7032
CASE SCHEDULE

02.09.05
Public hearing

02.18.05
Deadline for intervention requests

03.10.05
Site visit

03.18.05
Last date for filing discovery requests on petitioners

03.28.05
Last date for petitioners’ prefiled direct testimony and exhibits

04.11.05
All parties other than petitioners prefile direct testimony and exhibits

05.02.05
Last day to serve discovery on April 11 prefiled testimony and exhibits

05.12.05
Last day for discovery responses

05.23.05
All parties prefile rebuttal testimony and exhibits

06.03.05
Last day to serve discovery on rebuttal prefiled testimony and exhibits

06.13.05
Last day for responses to rebuttal discovery

06.27.05
All parties prefile surrebuttal testimony and exhibits

07.06.05
Technical hearing

07.07.05
Technical hearing

07.08.05
Technical hearing

07.18.05 (week of)
Technical hearings

08.08.05
Briefs due

08.22.05
Reply briefs due

10.19.05
Proposal for decision issued

11.04.05
Comments due on proposal for decision

12.07.05
Oral argument on proposal for decision

BOARD SCHEDULING ORDER (PDF)

SCHEDULE CHANGE MEMO OF 04.14.05 (PDF)