Eversource will hold an open house about the project at the Elmwood Community Center.

Eversource has proposed a new underground transmission line (shown in blue) through the southeast corner of West Hartford, connecting the Southwest Hartford and Newington substations. Image courtesy of Eversource

By Ronni Newton

Eversource is planning an upgrade to its system by installing a new underground 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that will run through the Elmwood area of West Hartford.

The company will hold an open house to explain the project and address residents’ questions on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, from 6 – 8 p.m., at the Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Ave., West Hartford.

According to a news release from Eversource, the new 3.8 mile electric transmission line will be a “long-term solution to address energy needs in the area” and it will pass through West Hartford as it connects the Southwest Hartford substation in Hartford with the Newington substation in Newington.

The new line is part of Eversource’s Greater Hartford-Central Connecticut Reliability Project (GHCCRP). Upgrades to the Southwest Hartford and Newington substations, as well as the Berlin substation, will also be made as part of the project.

In the description of the project on Eversource’s website, the company states that: “These improvements will strengthen our system and ensure customers have reliable power to meet their energy needs, in keeping with national and regional reliability standards.”

Project team members from Eversource will attend the open house to explain the need for the project as well as the approval process and construction timeline. Questions and comments from residents will also be addressed.

According to the Eversource website, the company plans to apply to the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) for approval during the first quarter of 2016. A public hearing will be scheduled and Eversource anticipates the CSC will make its decision in early 2017. A “development and management” plan will also need to be approved by the CSC.

Pending approval of all plans, construction is scheduled to comment during the third quarter of 2017 with completion estimated in the third quarter of 2018.

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