North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• PJM invites proposals for improving transmission network

  April 29, 2013
  PJM Interconnection (PJM) has invited comments from utility and non-utility competitors to propose solutions for meeting the power system needs in specific areas.

• EIPC completes transmission planning study

  April 29, 2013
  The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) has completed the transmission planning study of the Eastern Interconnection grid with the issue of a draft report of the study’s second phase.

• BC Hydro’s NTL project to cost USD222 million more [free access]

  April 29, 2013
  The cost of Northwest Transmission Line Project (NTL) project has increased by more than 55 per cent from USD395 million to USD617 million in the last two years.

• BLM releases final EIS of Gateway West Transmission Line Project

  April 26, 2013
  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the final environment impact assessment (EIS) report of the Gateway West Transmission Line project.

• CLE to acquire Power Network New Mexico

  April 25, 2013
  Clean Line Energy (CLE) Partners has signed an agreement to acquire Power Network New Mexico, LLC (Power Network), one of the developers of the Power Network transmission project (also referred to as the Central New Mexico Collector System).

• SWEPC’s 345 kV project faces opposition from local residents

  April 25, 2013
  Local residents of Benton and Carroll counties are opposing the 345 kV transmission project proposed by Shreveport-based Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPC).

• Maritime Electric to spend USD20 million to upgrade ageing transmission line

  April 24, 2013
  Maritime Electric has planned to spend USD20 million to upgrade its 80 km West Royalty to Church Road in St. Charles transmission line.

• IRAC rejects City of Summerside’s request of building 80 km line

  April 24, 2013
  The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) has rejected the request of City of Summerside to build its own transmission line and interconnection to access the two submarine cables at Maritime Electric’s switching station in Bedeque.

• Potomac Edison announces USD55 million investment plans

  April 23, 2013
  Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation, has announced its USD55 million investment plans for 2013.

• FERC favors Version 5 of CIP Reliability Standards proposed by NERC

  April 22, 2013
  The staff of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is proposing to approve Version 5 of the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards proposed by North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

• FERC approves Order 1000 filing of California and New York ISO

  April 22, 2013
  Continuing its efforts to review the Order 1000 compliance filings, the FERC has conditionally accepted the proposals of two major grid operators, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) and New York ISO, as well as the far smaller transmission operators, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company and NorthWestern Corporation.

• New York PSC approves Champlain Hudson Power project [free access]

  April 19, 2013
  Transmission Developers Incorporated (TDI) has received a certificate to construct and operate a transmission project from New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) for its Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project.

• DATC to host public meeting in Wheatland, Wyoming [free access]

  April 19, 2013
  Duke-American Transmission Company (DATC) has scheduled a public meeting for its Zephyr Power Transmission Project on April 30, 2013

• AEP subsidiaries submit vegetation management plans

  April 19, 2013
  Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, subsidiaries of American Electric Power (AEP), have filed their vegetation management plans with the West Virginia PSC.

• West Penn Power to spend USD110 million to enhance network

  April 18, 2013
  West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation, has planned to spend about USD110 million in 2013 to further enhance the electrical system and reliability in its 24-county service area.

• Anbaric Transmission engages in open solicitation for 230 kV project

  April 17, 2013
  Anbaric Transmission has released the Transmission Customer Open Solicitation for its 230 kV, 34 mile (54.74 km) Grand Isle Intertie (GII) Project between Plattsburgh, New York and Essex, Vermont as per the new guidelines issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

• North Carolina senate passes SB 635

  April 17, 2013
  The North Carolina senate has passed the Senate Bill (SB) 635 related to transmission line ownership issues.

• Entergy’s merger with ITC approved by shareholders

  April 16, 2013
  The shareholders of ITC Holdings Corporation (ITC) have approved Entergy Corporation’s merger plans with the company.

• Minnesota Power to hold two public meetings for 500 kV project

  April 15, 2013
  Minnesota Power has scheduled two public meetings in northwestern Minnesota and Iron Range for its 500 kV Great Northern Transmission Line project during April 15-26, 2013.

• Zephyr Power Transmission Project may cross Albany County

  April 14, 2013
  The ±500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) Zephyr Power Transmission Project may pass through Albany County as per the route proposed by its developer Duke-American Transmission Company (DATC).