2010 Report - Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Trans-Allegheny Interstate LineThe RTEP recommended that Allegheny Power build facilities constituting the Trans-AlleghenyInterstate Line (TrAIL). TrAIL was to extend from Southwestern Pennsylvania (37 miles) to WestVirginia (114 miles) to Northern Virginia (28 miles). In-service dates ranged from 2009 to mid-2010. The 2008 RTEP retool analysis of 2011 system conditions confirmed the need for this lineby June 1, 2011, to address reliability criteria violations on the Mt. Storm-Doubs 500 kV line.In support of the TrAIL project, Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company (TrAILCo), anAllegheny Energy subsidiary, filed an application 20 with the Commission on April 13, 2007,proposing the construction of one 500 kV and three 138 kV transmission lines in Washington andGreene counties. The project included a substation in Washington County (Prexy Substation), asubstation in Greene County (502 Junction Substation), three 138 kV transmission lines and a 36-mile 500 kV transmission line.Evidentiary hearings in all three states were concluded by April 2008. In a RecommendedDecision issued Aug. 21, 2008, the Commission’s ALJs recommended that the application bedenied because TrAILCo had failed to prove a need for the facilities. A Partial SettlementAgreement was reached for the Pennsylvania portion of the TrAIL Project, involving approval of a1.2-mile segment of the 500 kV line extending from a new substation in Greene County,Pennsylvania (the 502 Junction), to the West Virginia border. On Nov. 13, 2008, the Commissionapproved the Partial Settlement Agreement and stayed the application with regard to the Prexyfacilities pending the outcome of a collaborative set forth in the Partial Settlement Agreement andthe filing of a new or amended application. On July 13, 2009, a Joint Petition for Settlement wasfiled with the Commission, agreeing to an alternative, more cost-effective solution to NERCReliability Standard violations, including a set of local 138 kV transmission upgrades. By Order ofAug. 25, 2009, the record was reopened for the purpose of amending the application and approvingthe Settlement. An Amendment to Application was filed on Oct. 13, 2009.The 2009 RTEP stated that the alternative solution did not resolve several violations outside thecontested area of the settlement, requiring additional upgrades that the Prexy-502 Junction wouldhave otherwise resolved. The upgrades, including the construction of a new Osage-Whiteley 138kV line and a new 138 kV Braddock substation, are shown in Figure 6.20 Docket No. A-110172, et al.10Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission