Dave Burnham of Eversource Energy, representing the New England transmission owners (NETOs), discussed updates to the guidelines for asset condition project presentations at the ISO-NE Planning Advisory Committee on Sept. 18. 

The New England states have been pressuring the TOs for greater oversight and transparency into the asset condition project planning process as the costs associated with maintaining the region’s transmission infrastructure have ballooned in recent years. (See New England States Raise Alarm on Eversource Asset Condition Project.) 

The states argue the review process at the PAC is insufficient, as the PAC lacks any authority to approve expenditures, which is under FERC’s jurisdiction. The states have discussed the possibility of establishing an independent transmission monitor to oversee transmission spending in the region. 

In response to the states’ concerns, the NETOs have proposed and implemented changes to standardize presentations to the PAC, increase transparency into overall asset condition spending and solicit stakeholder feedback on their plans.  

Burnham presented updates to the new asset condition process guidelines regarding PAC presentations and the standardization of asset grading.  

Going forward, he said project presentations will “discuss any overlap between the proposed project and needs identified in recent ISO-NE studies.” 

“This change responds to several stakeholders’ requests for information on correlation of asset condition needs with regional planning study efforts,” Burnham said. 

He also discussed an update to the NETOs’ asset condition project database, which was published at the end of August. 

The database includes cost estimates on planned, proposed and under-construction projects, as well as preliminary information on under-development projects. Projects expected to come in-service this year are projected to cost $903 million, while the projection increases to $1.6 billion for 2025 and $1.59 billion for 2026. 

Asset Condition Project Presentations

National Grid presented a project to address structural damage and deterioration on a 345-kV line in central Massachusetts. The company proposes to replace 19 wooden structures with steel structures, repair insulators on three structures, and conduct “minor maintenance” on 10 structures. This preferred solution is projected to cost $19.4 million, with an in-service date of mid-2025. 

Eversource detailed its plans to replace 12 circuit breakers across two substations in New Hampshire, with an expected cost of $25.7 million. The company will replace breakers that use air compression systems, which it said pose “serious reliability risks.” Eversource said it’s ultimately aiming to replace all 127 of these breakers across New England and is prioritizing breakers at substations that have experienced frequent issues.