There is a major problem facing residents and businesses in the 54 towns in southwest Connecticut. FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has ranked the region as one of the nations’ top energy reliability risks. The demand for electricity is growing faster there than in any other area of the state, yet it has an outdated and insufficient transmission system serving it. In fact, while southwest Connecticut represents only a quarter of the state geographically, it uses half of all electricity consumed in the state. And presently, it is the only region in the state not served by a high-capacity 345kV transmission system.

The backbone of the electric transmission grid in southwest Connecticut currently consists of only 115kV transmission lines that were installed about 60 years ago.These lines have reached their technological limits and were never designed to handle the amount of electricity flowing across them today, as well as the increased amounts of electricity that will become necessary in years to come.

The Line is essential to getting more power to where it is needed in the most efficient, cost-effective way.