Greensburg, Pa. & Columbus, Ohio, December 30, 2009–Allegheny Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AYE) and American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) reiterated a request to regulators in Virginia for permission to withdraw the previously submitted application to build the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) project in the state. Today’s request considers new information recently provided by regional grid operator PJM Interconnection (PJM), suggesting the project appears not to be needed in 2014 to resolve reliability problems on the electric grid. (For more transmission news, click here.)
However, the data recently received from PJM is preliminary and not sufficient to identify a specific in-service date for the project. PJM is in the process of preparing its more comprehensive 2010 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP), which will identify an in-service date.
Based on the delivery of the 2010 RTEP later next year, a new application in
PJM supports PATH-VA’s motion to withdraw, which will allow time for PJM to perform a comprehensive review of system needs as part of its RTEP process. AEP and Allegheny remain responsive to PJM and are committed to having the line in place as directed by the grid operator. The companies also support their affiliates’ existing applications seeking approval for the PATH project in
For more information on the project, including maps and full state applications, please visit the project Web site at www.pathtransmission.com.
