Transmission News

The design framework for a California Independent System Operator (ISO) energy imbalance market (EIM) received approval from the ISO board of governors. The EIM will allow western grid operators, known as “balancing authorities”, to voluntarily participate in a real-time energy market that enhances grid reliability and responsiveness, effectively integrates renewable power and saves wholesale energy costs. The ISO’s first EIM partner, PacifiCorp, has been working with the ISO to prepare for implementing the market expected to go live on October 1, 2014.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), MidAmerican Transmission and Citizens Energy were chosen by the California Independent System Operator (ISO) to develop, own and operate a new transmission line in the Central Valley region of California. The 230- kV line will span about 70 miles across Fresno, Madera and Kings counties, running from the Gates to Gregg substations, which are owned and operated by PG&E.

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana signed a commercial and contractual agreement with Methanex USA to supply up to 30 MW of power to Methanex's new methanol facility in Geismar, Louisiana. The power contract between Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Methanex is for an initial 10-year term and will continue thereafter on a year-to-year basis. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana plans to upgrade its electric transmission system to meet the increased demand the methanol production facility is anticipated to generate.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) directed Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to keep its natural gas pipeline number 147, which runs through the City of San Carlos, out of service until CPUC staff verifies the safety of the pipeline. The CPUC’s safety and enforcement division has initiated a staff investigation to determine whether any immediate safety concerns are posed by the pipeline. This investigation will result in public findings, required corrective action if necessary, and citations for any violation of law or regulation.

The PJM Interconnection board of managers authorized $1.2 billion in upgrades and improvements to the high-voltage electric transmission system that serves the Mid-Atlantic and all or parts of other states between the Mid-Atlantic and Chicago, Ill.

ABB successfully commissioned the subsea transmission link connecting one of the largest offshore wind farms in Europe to the Belgian grid. The Thornton Bank project, executed for the Belgian company C-Power NV was completed on schedule. The transmission link was constructed as part of an expansion of the Thornton Bank wind farm.

ABB won an order worth around $30 million from Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A. to construct a new indoor transmission substation in downtown Rio de Janeiro to power the Maracanã soccer stadium for the forthcoming World Cup. ABB will design, supply, install and commission a new indoor substation to replace a 40-year-old installation in Grajau, near the Maracanã stadium. ABB will also install IEC-61850 substation automation, control and protection systems to enable local as well as remote control and monitoring.

Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, received approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to build the majority of its nearly 400-mile, approximately $1.1 billion Illinois Rivers transmission project. The project consists of a new 345-kV transmission line crossing the Mississippi River near Quincy, Ill., and continuing east across Illinois to the Indiana border.

ABB delivered the East West Interconnector, the world’s highest capacity HVDC light underwater power link, to EirGrid, the Irish transmission system operator. The 500-MW transmission connection establishes a link between the Irish and U.K. grids, enabling cross-border power flows and enhancing grid reliability and security of electricity supplies. The new link also facilitates power trading between the two countries and connects Ireland to the European grid.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) ruled that it lacks jurisdiction to approve a merchant transmission company’s plan for providing wholesale electric transmission service in Kentucky. The commission found that the new company, AEP Kentucky Transmission Company, Inc. (KY Transco), did not fit the definition of a utility under the state utility code even though the company had averred that its transmission service would be subject to both PSC and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) jurisdiction. Dissenting Vice Chairman James W.