Allegheny Energy and its Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company subsidiary continue to work toward obtaining state regulatory authorization to build a new 500-kV transmission line. Public input hearings, which are scheduled to be held in Winchester and Front Royal, Virginia, beginning today, are an integral part of the open and thorough regulatory process.

Conducted by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), these hearings are an opportunity for the public to make comments about the proposed line. Ultimately, the Commission will weigh the testimony and evidence to determine whether the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL) is needed, and if the proposed route is appropriate to meet that need.

The line is critical to the ongoing reliability of the grid to meet the growing residential and business demand for electricity. In Allegheny Power’s Virginia service territory, historical summer peak loads grew by more than 60 percent between 1995 and 2005.

PJM Interconnection, an independent expert, has determined that without the line, the stability of the grid and reliable flow of electricity within the PJM region cannot be reasonably assured. This could result in blackouts, voltage disruptions, and brownouts within Virginia and other areas of the PJM region as soon as 2011. 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 in an effort to minimize land-use impacts.

In fact, Allegheny conducted 12 public open houses, including two in Virginia, to show potential routes and collect comment. About 2,200 interested individuals attended these sessions, which were not required by law, but provided invaluable feedback to create the best possible route for the line.

“We have promised from the outset of the TrAIL project to be forthright and open with every aspect of this vital electric infrastructure upgrade,” said David E. Flitman, President of Allegheny Power and Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company. “The Commission’s public hearings are a critical element of the rigorous approval process in Virginia. We urge people to stay informed, keep an open mind and support a thorough, fair review of our plans by regulators.”

Similar public hearings are expected to be conducted in Pennsylvania and West Virginia by each state’s respective commission.

The 210-mile transmission line is targeted for completion in 2011, and will span Allegheny Power’s transmission zone from Southwestern Pennsylvania through West Virginia to Northern Virginia. Within Virginia, the line will run about 28 miles through Frederick and Warren counties generally adjacent to an existing 500-kilovolt transmission line, reaching an interconnection point with Dominion Virginia Power about a mile and a half south of Interstate 66. Dominion will build the line from that point to its Loudoun substation in Loudoun County.