Dive Brief:
- PJM Interconnection's board of directors has authorized $1 billion in electric transmission projects necessary to ensure efficient and reliable power supplies for 65 million customers the grid operator serves.
- PJM approved projects in the service area of a half dozen utilities; many of the projects will cost less than $5 million, though a few higher ticket items are on the list. Since 2000, PJM has approved $32.3 billion in transmission additions and upgrades.
- According to the operator's report, the largest project will cost almost $200 million and will reinforce 69-kilovolt transmission lines to maintain reliable electricity supplies for more than 15,000 customers in Union County, N.J.
Dive Insight:
PJM's Board of Directors this week approved a new swath of transmission projects aimed at maintaining and improving the regional transmission system which serves 13 states and the District of Columbia. The projects include reliability and market efficiency improvements, the operator said.
“Maintaining the reliability of the grid is paramount and involves continuously reviewing small and large transmission projects,” PJM President and CEO Andrew Ott said in a statement.
In addition to the Union County improvements, another big-ticket expense will be construction of a new 69-kV line to serve customers near Camden, N.J., at a price tag of $98 million.
The board approved upgrades in areas served by American Electric Power, American Transmission Systems, Commonwealth Edison, Dominion, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Pennsylvania Electric Co. and Public Service Electric & Gas.
In February, PJM approved more than $1.5 billion in projects, including several large-scale upgrades the operator said were needed to address reliability issues in multiple areas. Then in July, PJM authorized more than $417 million in electric transmission projects.
