Project Description

Overview
The Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), along with Stowe Electric Department (SED) and Green Power Corporation (GMP), (referred to as “Petitioners”) have filed a petition before the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) to construct a new 115 kilovolts (kV) transmission line from northern Duxbury to Stowe, Vermont.

According to the Petitioners, the purpose of the transmission line is to increase the reliability and adequacy of electric power supply to Lamoille County and adjacent areas. Petitioners are seeking approval in time to construct and place the upgrade in service by November 2006.

Petition Filed with the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB)
In December 2005, Petitioners filed their petition and supporting testimony with the PSB (the state agency that regulates utilities) for a “Certificate of Public Good” under Title 30, Section 248 of the Vermont Statutes.

In a Section 248 proceeding, the PSB evaluates a proposed project to determine whether it promotes the general good of the state, analyzing issues such as need, reliability, economic benefit, and environmental criteria. This Lamoille Transmission Upgrade Project petition is currently being reviewed by the PSB in Docket 7032.

Project Description (project map - pdf 43kb)
The Lamoille Transmission Upgrade Project, as proposed, consists of the following components:

• 9.4 miles of 115 kV transmission line within the right of way of the existing Green Mountain Power 34.5 kV line from Duxbury to just south of Stowe's existing Wilkins substation.

• A new 115 kV tap off of the VELCO "K24" 115 kV line (a long-distance transmission line that extends from the Essex to Berlin). The tap includes 0.3 miles of side-by-side 115 kV lines on a single pole and a switching station on a half-acre of land in northern Duxbury.

• The removal of GMP's existing 34.5 kV line from the new GMP Waterbury substation to Blush Hill, just south of Waterbury Reservoir. In this section, only the new 115 kV line will occupy the old right of way.

• From Blush Hill to Stowe, the 34.5 kV line will be relocated from the middle of the 100-foot right of way closer to the edge to make room for the new 115 kV line which will run parallel to the reconstructed line.

• A new substation just south of Stowe's Wilkins substation.

• Upgrade of a VELCO substation in Moretown, Vermont.
  Removal of Stowe's Moscow substation.

• A new 34.5 kV line running 1.05 miles between the new Stowe substation and the Stowe Mountain tap placed on the same single-pole structures as the re-located 34.5 kV line in this area.

Project Cost
Petitioners estimate that the total project cost will be approximately $20.3 million. These costs will be principally borne by the ratepayers of the benefiting utilities in Lamoille County, including Stowe Electric, Green Mountain Power, Central Vermont Public Service, Vermont Electric Coop, Washington Electric Coop, Hardwick Electric, Hyde Park Electric, Johnson Electric, and Morrisville Electric.

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)