A complaint filed by two groups and three residents against Puget Sound Energy’s proposal to build 18 miles of new high voltage transmission lines on the Eastside was thrown out by a federal commission late last week after months of deliberation.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed the complaint, which alleged that PSE has not followed federal rules in planning for the new transmission line, on Oct. 22.
“Contrary to (the) complainants’ vague allegations that the respondents have violated [Federal transmission planning regulations], the record before us shows that [PSE] and the other respondents have complied with the applicable transmission planning requirements,” the order from the Commission states.
Energize Eastside is a $200 million project to replace 18 miles of transmission lines through four Eastside cities — Newcastle, Renton, Bellevue and Redmond.
PSE says that an existing 50-year old 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line running through the center of the Eastside will not be able to deliver enough electricity during extreme weather conditions within two years time.
The Coalition of Eastside Neighborhoods for Sensible Energy, Citizens for Sane Eastside Energy and individuals Larry Johnson, Glenna White and Steven O’Donnell filed the complaint against PSE and other organizations on June 9. They alleged that PSE did not follow rules set forth by the commission regarding the line’s construction and its impact.
As the Reporter previously reported, PSE’s approach to the new line was questioned.
Utility consultant Rich Lauckhart, a former vice president at PSE who filed an affidavit on behalf of the local groups, questioned why the company did not participate in a load flow study that would study the power grid as a whole. Commission regulations also stipulate that utilities can not simply build their own high voltage or bulk power lines, he said.
“Utilities do not have a monopoly on the ownership of elements of the Bulk Electric System, which Energize Eastside is part of,” said Lauckhart. “If it is ultimately determined that Energize Eastside is the best solution to a reliability problem, then any qualified entity that can build transmission lines would have the opportunity to bid on the project and subsequently build and own those lines.”
PSE officials maintained that the issues brought forward by the local parties were based on inaccurate claims that led to inaccurate conclusions, and that they complainants incorrectly asserted that the Energize Eastside project will primarily benefit the larger regional system.
“It is a local project to meet local needs,” said PSE spokesman Andy Wappler.
PSE say there should be little, if any change in rates. Studies to calculate how much consumers might pay will not be conducted until a formal rate filing is made by PSE.
