PJM Approves $1.4 Billion Transmission Upgrade Plan

On October 15, 2009 the PJM Interconnection ("PJM") Board approved an additional $1.4 billion in electric transmission grid upgrades and enhancements. This brings PJM's total investment in their Regional Transmission Expansion Planning ("RTEP") process since 2000 to $14.7 billion.

The latest RTEP process evaluated future transmission needs through 2024. RTEP identifies transmission system upgrades and enhancements to provide for the operational, economic, and reliability requirements of PJM customers.

The 2008 RTEP report included over 195 studies that evaluated the impact of adding new generation to the system. The plan also reaffirmed the need for four "transmission backbone" projects. Those projects include:

• Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line (TrAIL): a 500-kV line from the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia to Virginia;
• Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH): a 300-mile 765-kV line from West Virginia to Maryland;
• Susquehanna to Roseland: a130-mile 500-kV line from Pennsylvania to New Jersey; and
• Mid Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP): a 500-kV line from Virginia to the Delmarva peninsula.

Additional information on PJM's RTEP is available at: http://www.pjm.com/planning/rtep-upgrades-status.aspx.