Allegheny Energy, Inc. and its Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co. subsidiary continue to work toward obtaining Pennsylvania regulators' authorization to build a new 500-kV transmission line and related 138 kV lines.

Public input hearings, which began last week in Washington and Greene Counties, are an integral part of the open and thorough regulatory process. Conducted by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), these hearings are an opportunity for the public to comment on the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL).

A 37 mile-segment of the 500-kV line will address local reliability concerns in southwestern Pennsylvania's Washington and Greene counties, where rapid demand growth is straining Allegheny Power's system.

"Our nation's top energy experts have called for new transmission lines to be built to prevent looming power reliability problems," said David E. Flitman, president of Allegheny Power and Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company. "The U.S. Department of Energy, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and PJM all agree - something must be done now. TrAIL is an important part of the solution to these problems."

PJM Interconnection, an independent expert, has determined that without the line, the stability of the grid and reliable flow of electricity within Southwestern Pennsylvania cannot be reasonably assured. This could result in blackouts, voltage disruptions and brownouts in Allegheny Power's Pennsylvania service area as soon as 2009. PJM is the regional grid operator for a 13-state area.

Allegheny is committed to working with landowners, neighboring residents, business owners and regulators to balance all interests and minimize land-use impacts. Last year, Allegheny conducted 12 public open houses, including four in Pennsylvania, to show potential routes, collect comments and provide project information. About 2,200 interested individuals attended these sessions, which were not required by law, but provided valuable feedback to create the best possible route for the line.

"We have promised from the outset to be forthright and open about every aspect of this vital infrastructure upgrade," said Flitman. "The Commission's public hearings are a critical element of the rigorous approval process in Pennsylvania. We urge people to stay informed, keep an open mind and support a thorough, fair review of our plans by regulators."

A 37-mile segment of the 500 kV line in Pennsylvania, which will address local reliability concerns, will transmit power from the proposed 502 Junction substation near the West Virginia border north to the Prexy substation proposed in Washington County. The new transmission infrastructure in Pennsylvania will also include three smaller 138 kV lines, each approximately five miles in length, which will connect the Prexy substation to existing lines that deliver energy to customers in Washington County.

The remaining segment of TrAIL in Pennsylvania is approximately one mile in length and will extend from 502 Junction to the Pennsylvania-West Virginia state line where it will continue for approximately 150 miles across West Virginia to the Meadow Brook substation in Middletown, Virginia. Dominion Virginia Power will build the line from an interconnection point east of Meadow Brook to its Loudoun substation. This portion of TrAIL is necessary to meet the growing demand for power in the Mid-Atlantic region and to prevent several existing transmission lines across the region from overloading as early as 2011.