Bellevue residents objecting to Puget Sound Energy’s Energize Eastside project raised more concerns on Monday about the company selected by the city to provide a third-party analysis of future energy demands on the Eastside and whether those findings match up with PSE’s projections.

The city council approved an agreement with Utility Systems Efficiencies, Inc., on Monday for up to $100,000 to perform an independent technical analysis of PSE’s Energize Eastside project.

The study was prompted by concerned residents who question the energy company’s claims the project, which would run 18 miles of 230kV lines between Redmond and Renton, is needed to prevent energy capacity issues estimated to occur as early as 2017.

A number of those residents, many belonging to the Coalition of Eastside Neighborhoods for Sensible Energy, told the council the selected company for the independent study lacks insight into leading-edge clean energy solutions and that stakeholders like CENSE should have had more input in the selection process. Those who have spoken out against the energy capacity project are pushing for alternative solutions to overhead transmission lines.Katherine Taylor, a senior government affairs expert with PSE, told the council Monday the energy company is confident in its own analysis, and supports the third-party study.

“We are eager to have our studies validated by an independent reviewer,” Taylor said.

Fourteen firms were solicited for contract bids to complete the independent study, said Bellevue Senior Planner Nicholas Matz, USE being one of two finalists interviewed by a selection committee before the company was recommended to the council.

A final report is expected to be completed by February, before work begins later that month on the environmental impact statement process needed for Energize Eastside to proceed.

The first phase of the EIS process will allow the city and residents to weigh in as to what alternative solutions should be explored, said Mike Brennan, city director of development services, while USE is being retained just to determine whether the purpose and need for Energize Eastside truly exists as outlined by PSE. USE’s access to proprietary data from PSE will allow it to “hit the ground running,” added Matz.

Councilmember John Chelminiak said he wants a future meeting to address an alternative plan submitted by Don Marsh with CENSE. Mayor Claudia Balducci said innovative solutions are needed, but those solutions should not leave the city open to the risk of losing energy capacity.

“I don’t know how bleeding edge we want to be,” she said.