CL&P Energizes New Bethel-to-Norwalk Transmission Line as Part of Strategy to Meet Regional Energy Needs

The Connecticut Light and Power Co. (CL&P), part of the Northeast Utilities System, announced that on October 12, 2006, it energized the new Bethel-to-Norwalk (B/N) 345- kV electric transmission line. This line will allow an additional 600 MW of electricity to be delivered to southwest Connecticut and the region.

Completion of this project is another significant step in NU's strategic business plan that was announced in November 2005. This plan focuses on improving regulated utility infrastructure to meet customers' energy needs. Construction of CL&P's B/N transmission project began in spring 2005 and was completed ahead of schedule. The NU team completed all underground and overhead construction in just 16 months. The line spans some 21 miles to connect CL&P's largest load center, southwest Connecticut, to the region's existing 345-kV energy backbone.

"This new transmission line helps improve the reliability of the region's power supply," said Charles W. Shivery, NU chairman, president and chief executive officer. "The project provides benefits to customers in the state of Connecticut and those in New England. The new B/N transmission line is expected to save electric consumers about $100 million annually in federally mandated charges."

One of the largest transmission projects recently completed in the country, the $350 million B/N project came in under budget by about $10 million and ahead of schedule by two months. The B/N project uses state-of- the-art technology such as a gas-insulated system substation that reduced land space to meet site limitations. The company is also leading the industry in its application of underground transmission by installing the longest length of 345-kV solid underground cable in the United States.

"Here in New England, the requirement for an improved and enhanced electric transmission system is especially urgent, and NU is building the right solution, at the right time," Shivery said. State regulators and lawmakers also recognize the critical need to reinforce the state's electric infrastructure and aided CL&P in the timely review and successful siting of this major project.
"Our multi-state, multi-project build-out program represents approximately 55 percent of the total New England transmission upgrade and is one of the largest programs of its type in the U.S.," Shivery said.

The B/N project is the first of four major initiatives in southwest Connecticut that will resolve long-standing reliability challenges and will make our regional transmission grid more secure and efficient. In Connecticut, work is under way on the Middletown-to-Norwalk project, the Glenbrook Cables project and the Long Island Replacement Cable, which further extend the benefits of the 345-kV bulk power system into southwest Connecticut. And, as NU companies provide energy for future needs, planning and construction are also under way on other projects across NU's franchise area such as a new liquefied natural gas facility in Waterbury, the Northern Woods Power Plant in New Hampshire, as well as many distribution system upgrades in Connecticut, western Massachusetts and New Hampshire.