RICHMOND — A State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing examiner recommends approval of a 93-mile, 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line project that runs from the Virginia-West Virginia border in Frederick County to a substation in Loudoun County. Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company (TrAILCo) proposes to construct the western segment of the line from the West Virginia border. The eastern segment to Loudoun County is proposed by Dominion Virginia Power and TrAILCo.

In a report filed on July 28, 2008, Hearing Examiner Alexander F. Skirpan, Jr. found that the construction of the two new transmission lines on company-owned right-of-way is necessary to serve northern Virginia and resolve overloads projected to occur on an existing 500-kV transmission line beginning in 2011. The report serves as a recommendation to the Commission, which makes the final decision.

The two segments are the eastern end of a proposed 240-mile line that originates in southwestern Pennsylvania and continues through West Virginia to Virginia. Skirpan recommends that the Commission condition approval of the Virginia segments on approval of the line in those states.

In determining the route for the transmission line, Skirpan recommends the Commission consider locating the lines partially or wholly within existing transmission right-of-way for the entire path in Virginia. For the Dominion segment, this is generally known as the "Southern" route. Skirpan concludes the use of existing right-of-way will have less of an impact on historic and cultural assets.

The Commission will rely on the hearing examiner’s report and the case record to issue a final order. The Commissioners may accept, modify, or reject the examiner’s recommendations.

###

Case Numbers: PUE-2007-00031, PUE-2007-00033