Dive Brief:
- Utilities and other transmission owners added almost 3,300 miles of high voltage power lines in 2013, up from about 2,375 miles in 2012, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- New 345-kV and 500-kV lines more than doubled to 2,976 miles last year from 1,300 miles in 2012.
- About 13,000 miles of high voltage lines are proposed to start operating by 2016, but FERC considers only 4,500 miles highly likely to be built.
FERC
Dive Insight:
Since 2009, most of the new high voltage lines were under 230-kV. In 2012, the balance shifted towards lines at the 345-kV level and higher. Based on FERC's list of “high probability” power lines for the next three years, it looks like the trend of building higher voltage lines will continue.
Partly, this trend is likely related to a drive to connect renewable generation to the grid. It also reflects the higher rates of return FERC has been approving for interstate transmission projects. Those higher rates have spurred investment in FERC-regulated transmission projects. The grid system is getting more robust, which will improve reliability and make power markets more efficient.
