Collaborative Regional Transmission Plan IDs 11 Major Projects

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Participants in the North Carolina Transmission Planning Collaborative (NCTPC) have identified 11 major transmission projects, representing more than $318 million in investments over the next decade, as part of the 2012-2022 Collaborative Transmission Plan for North Carolina (2012 plan).

The 2011 plan included an estimate of $296 million for 11 projects. One of those projects was completed by Progress in December 2012. One new project was identified by Progress which ended up replacing one of the 2011 projects. In-service dates and cost estimates for some projects in the 2012 plan that are planned or underway have been revised based on updated information.

The collaborative was formed in 2005 to develop a shared plan for electric transmission system enhancements in the state. Participants include Duke Energy Carolinas, Progress Energy Carolinas, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and ElectriCities of North Carolina. Since its inception in 2005, projects totaling $839 million have been identified in the NCTPC plans, with $306 million placed into service through 2012,   $197 million currently under construction, $91 million still in the planning stage, and another $245 million being deferred outside the planning horizon or cancelled as a result of changing system requirements.

The scope of the 2012 planning study included a base reliability analysis for transmission needs to meet load growth between 2013 and 2022 as well as an analysis of various system conditions under a number of hypothetical resource supply option scenarios.

The Resource Supply Options for the 2012 NCTPC Study consisted of two types of scenarios to examine the transmission system impacts of hypothetical generation resources:

• Option 1 examined injecting 500 MW of power into the transmission system from a hypothetical generation resource in Davidson County, N.C., located near the Duke Energy Buck Plant.
• Option 2 examined the impact of three different Wind Generation Scenarios as part of the joint NCTPC – PJM inter-regional study. The different scenarios were evaluated with varying levels of wind energy penetration originating off the North Carolina / Virginia coast and varying levels of power transfers between the PJM, DEC and PEC systems.

The 2012 Plan can be viewed on the NCTPC website under the Reference Documents section at ( http://www.nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp).

The major transmission projects identified in the 2012 plan report are expected to be implemented over the next 10-year planning period by the transmission owners to preserve system reliability and improve economic transfers. Major projects are defined as those requiring transmission investments of more than $10 million. These planned projects are subject to change based on evolving system conditions. The plan is updated annually.

"The 2012 NCTPC Plan illustrates the value of collaboration between North Carolina's electric transmission owners and other electric suppliers," said Ed Finley, chairman of the North Carolina Utilities Commission. "This work keeps North Carolina well-positioned for the future by ensuring reliable delivery of power to communities across the state and helping rate payers save money."  

The NCTPC was established to provide the participants and other stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the electric transmission planning process for North Carolina, and to develop a single coordinated transmission plan for North Carolina electric utilities that includes reliability and enhanced transmission access considerations.  The group's priority is to appropriately balance costs, benefits and risks associated with the use of transmission and generation resources.

"The NCTPC is an important planning vehicle for joint planning and addressing transmission needs in the Carolinas," said Sam Waters of Duke Energy, chairman of the NCTPC Oversight/Steering Committee (OSC). "When we study and evaluate various scenarios, we gain knowledge and insights that can help regulators and policymakers understand potential implications of their decisions."

The NCTPC process includes active participation of other market participants and other stakeholders through a Transmission Advisory Group (TAG), which is open to all interested parties. Stakeholders interested in joining the TAG or receiving future information related to the NCTPC process,  can sign up to become a TAG participant and get on the TAG distribution list at the NCTPC website at ( http://www.nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp).

The NCTPC process includes the use of an Independent Third Party (ITP) consultant to act as a facilitator for the development and conduct of the NCTPC process. This role includes Chairing the TAG and soliciting input from the other stakeholders through the open TAG meetings. The ITP consultant for the NCTPC process is Richard Wodyka, [e-mail].

If you have any comments or questions on the NCTPC process or specifically on the 2012-2022 Collaborative Transmission Plan Study Report, please contact Sam Waters, NCTPC OSC chair (via email [e-mail] or phone [phone]).

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