inExcellence ExecutionA C a s e S t u d y o f t h e B e t h e l - N o r wa l k T ra n s m i s s i o n L i n e

In a politically and emotionally charged climate,

NU was able to counteract the “Not In My Backyard” senti-

ments of local legislative, municipal, business and residential

interests. Through strong leadership and open communication,

the Bethel-Norwalk project was seen as necessary for the

greater good of the state and the region.

The new 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission circuit

uses two different underground cable technologies, including

the longest length of 345-kV solid dialectric underground

cable used in the U.S. NU also constructed two state-of-the-art

345-kV gas-insulated substations which reduced land and

space requirements.

The complex construction project begins to

reinforce the state’s electrical infrastructure, immediately

improves the long-standing reliability challenges in southwest

Connecticut, and makes the regional transmission grid more

secure and efficient — all while saving Connecticut consumers

millions of dollars in congestion costs.

According to Wall Street Access (January 12,

2007), “…Northeast Utilities is probably the foremost authority

on new transmission construction in the country. The company’s

efforts will reduce the import gap in Connecticut and allow new

generation and enable the re-powering of many aging oil/gas

units in the state.”

Bethel-Norwalk 345-kV Project

Leadership:

Innovation:

Advancements:

Contributions:

Northeast Utilities (NU) serves one of the most power-constrained

regions in the United States. Recognizing the need to meet the

area’s growing demand for reliable power, The Connecticut Light

and Power Company (CL&P), a wholly owned subsidiary of NU,

strengthened the transmission capacity in the southwest part of

the state on October 12, 2006, when it successfully energized its

new Bethel-Norwalk (B-N) transmission line.

In the 21-mile stretch between the southwestern

Connecticut towns of Bethel and Norwalk, there are

scores of schools, hundreds of businesses — and

thousands of backyards. Small wonder that a strong

“Not In My Backyard” mentality arose in opposition

to Northeast Utilities’ plan for improving the area’s

long-standing transmission reliability issues.

But this politically heated environment was just

one of the hurdles faced by NU. The Connecticut

Siting Council process resulted in a far more complex

project than originally anticipated: transmission lines

needed to alternate between overhead and under-

ground, and reduced land and space requirements.

With a combination of intense community outreach

and innovative technology, the B-N project is now

seen as a landmark achievement in U.S. transmission

projects. One of the largest transmission projects

recently completed in the country, the $340 million

B-N project was completed two months ahead of

schedule and more than $10 million under budget.

By making the regional transmission grid more

secure and efficient, while saving Connecticut

consumers millions of dollars in congestion costs,

the B-N project is truly an example of Excellence

in Execution.

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Leadership in Transmission

In October 2001, NU submitted the B-N project

application to the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) as

an all-overhead 115-kV/345-kV double circuit transmis-

sion line located in the existing 115-kV right-of-way.

In June 2002, the Connecticut legislature passed a

law imposing a moratorium on new transmission, thus

delaying the CSC’s one-year statutory deadline for

review. The law also established a working group to

evaluate alternatives to the proposed transmission line.

Meanwhile, ISO-New England, which oversees the

regional power system, continued to identify southwest

Connecticut as having the most serious reliability

issues in New England. After evaluating 14 hybrid

designs, in September 2003 the CSC issued its final

approval of NU’s configuration that had the transmis-

sion line alternating between overhead and under-

ground (on both the 115-kV and 345-kV circuits).

Norwalk, one of four towns impacted by the project,

filed an appeal in November 2003, effectively delay-

ing the project until August 2004, when the appeal

was dismissed.

History

2

NU’s B-N projectstrengthens thereliability of thepower gridin New England.

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The innovative project achieves the following:

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Project Benefits

Bethel-Norwalk Project Impact onan Average Bill for a CL&P Customer

$0.69/month

$2.14/month

$1.45/month

Cost of the Bethel-Norwalk Project

EstimatedCongestion Savings Net Savings

Completing B-N is an impor-

tant step toward solving one of the most critical

electrical grid bottlenecks and threats to electric

reliability in Connecticut, New England and the

country. B-N was needed because of southwest

Connecticut’s isolation from New England’s 345-kV

electric transmission grid.

■ Improves reliability by providing a new path for bulk power

to flow into the area;

■ Increases capacity (600 megawatt [MW], emergency

1,200 MW) to a transmission-constrained area

(southwest Connecticut);

■ Reduces (by over one-third) existing transmission congestion

and related costs which currently exceed $300 million/year;

■ Provides greater access to competitively priced generation; and

■ Demonstrates NU’s ability to execute.

The B-N project was recently honored by “Utility Automation &Engineering T&D” Magazine as its 2006 Project of the Year for B-N’scomplex construction and disciplined project-management approach.

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Project Complexity

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From the outset, the B-N

project was fraught with challenges, in terms of both

local opposition and siting complications.

Local Opposition Before B-N was announced in the

summer of 2001, residents in the four project towns

had been organized to oppose the expansion of a

congested state road and the siting of a new power

plant. Weeks after the project was announced, two

grassroots organizations started up to oppose the

plan. Their opposition was very vocal and highly

visible. But the project managers and director forged

effective working relationships among the grassroots

organizations, the municipal leaders and the company.

Issues stemming from construction were hammered

out through these relationships.

Siting Complications The Connecticut Siting Council

(CSC) application process, which requires a decision

12 months from the date an application is filed, was

prolonged by six months — opening the process more

for opponents. NU's application proposed a preferred

route and alternate, but the CSC requested seven more,

totaling 21 variations using overhead/underground

combinations. The outcome of the Siting Council

process resulted in a far more complex project

because of the "porpoising" design. The CSC finally

approved a hybrid variation using two different

underground cable technologies at two different

voltage levels and gas-insulated substations. The

route traverses developed areas, historic districts and

schools in four towns — including curvy rural roads

with solid rock under the pavement that required a

special machine to cut through the rock.

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Bethel-Norwalk

The illustration aboveprovides an outline ofthe route and the 345-kV and 115-kV overheadand underground linework completed withineach segment of the route.After a 36-month sitingprocess, NU completed allunderground and overheadconstruction in just 16 months.

The new 345-kV line includes 8.5

miles of new overhead construction and 11.8 miles of

345-kV underground cables. NU used 345-kV high-

pressure fluid-filled (HPFF) cable systems for the

majority of the underground portion of the route of

the new 345-kV line, and 2.1 miles of 345-kV cross-

linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables.

At Plumtree Substation in Bethel, NU constructed a

state-of-the-art 345-kV outdoor gas-insulated substa-

tion (GIS), required because the space for expansion

was severely constrained by adjacent wetlands.

At Norwalk Substation, NU installed:

■ an indoor 345-kV GIS system;

■ autotransformers;

■ three underground 115-kV line sections;

■ a fourth 115-kV switchyard bay; and

■ a 345-kV line terminal structure.

In addition, 345-kV line transition stations were

constructed in the towns of Bethel, Redding and

Wilton, at points where the 345-kV line transitions

from overhead to underground construction.

Project Details

8

9

The B-N project usesthe longest length of345-kV solid dialectricunderground cable inAmerica, making NU aleader in this new, moreefficient technology.

NU’s project team was led by Project

Director Laurie Aylsworth. To limit financial risk while

maximizing control, NU leveraged experienced internal

personnel with consultants and contractors for the

tasks that required special expertise or large teams.

NU Transmission engineering staff completed the engi-

neering and design for both the substations. POWER

Engineers, Inc. engineered and designed all line compo-

nents between the two substations as well as managed

the construction. Other contracts issued included:

■ Mitsubishi Electric, LTD – GIS equipment at two substations

■ McPhee Electric Ltd., LLC – Substation civil and electrical,

transition stations electrical

■ Siemens – Furnished and installed three reactors

■ W. A. Chester – Furnished and installed 10 miles of 345-kV

HPFF underground cable

■ Kiewit Construction – Furnished and installed 10 miles of

115-kV XLPE underground cable

■ New River Electrical Corporation – Furnished and installed

2.1 miles of 345-kV XLPE underground cable

■ M.J. Electric – Constructed 345-kV overhead line

■ Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman – Transition stations civil,

345-kV XLPE civil

■ Sertex – Furnished and installed fiber optic cable system

Project Team

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The B-N project required therare skill of high-pressurefluid-filled (HPFF) cablesplicing. By some accountsthere are only 50 people inthe world with the skills andexperience to join bundlesof 345-kV HPFF cablestogether and have that jointreliably hold for the life ofthe cables.

Community Connections

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Throughout the B-N

project, the NU team demonstrated a strong commit-

ment to the communities involved, with frequent

communication to property owners, municipal officials

and state regulatory agencies. From project information

kiosks located in town halls, to maps and traffic

updates on Web sites, to newspaper articles and

advertising, key stakeholders were kept informed and

engaged throughout the entire process.

This extensive communication was begun in response

to community opposition that started up early in the

project. Just weeks after the project was announced,

two grassroots organizations were formed to oppose

the plan as residents filled high school auditoriums in

Redding, Bethel and Wilton to voice opposition. As the

project progressed, the project managers and director

established effective working relationships with the

municipal leaders.

In another instance where the NU team demonstrated

a strong commitment to our communities to ensure the

safety of schoolchildren around the construction site,

the contractor hired a chaperone to escort each student

to and from a special bus they rented to move safely

around big equipment and trenches. That’s an example

of how we care for our customers — and how we

always place safety first.

The B-N safety and environmental record was

excellent, thanks to the teamwork of hundreds of

employees and contractors who made safety and

concern for the environment their top priorities.

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By balancing the needs of the local

community with the energy requirements of the state

at large, NU has built the right solution at the right

time to strengthen Connecticut’s energy grid, ahead of

schedule and under budget.

The complex construction project — installing over

530,000 feet of new underground transmission cable,

in addition to two new 345-kV GIS substations, three

transition stations and over 20 miles of new 345-kV

line — begins to solve the critical need to reinforce

the state’s electrical infrastructure.

The B-N project improves system reliability and

provides our customers in southwest Connecticut with

greater access to competitively priced power. By

relieving system bottlenecks and improving delivery of

electricity into southwest Connecticut, we expect the

new B-N line to save customers nearly $100 million

annually. It also lends credibility to all of NU’s other

transmission projects, and positions us as one of the

foremost authorities on new transmission construction

in the country.

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Summary

TransmissionGroup

Net Income($ in millions)

Along rights-of-way, NU uses themost advanced land and vegetationmanagement practices available.We continually monitor our perform-ance and look for new ways todeliver electricity in harmony withthe environment.

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