Raleigh, N.C. —Participants in the North Carolina Transmission Planning Collaborative (“NCTPC”) have identified 8 major reliability transmission projects, representing more than $209 million in investments over the next decade, as part of the 2014-2024 Collaborative Transmission Plan for North Carolina (“2014 Plan”).
The 2013 plan included an estimate of $223 million for 9 projects. The modified projects for Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas in the 2014 Plan, relative to the 2013 Plan, include five Duke Energy Progress projects and two Duke Energy Carolinas projects that were placed in service. In-service dates and cost estimates for some projects in the 2014 Plan that are planned or underway have been revised based on updated information.
The NCTPC was formed in 2005 to develop a shared plan for electric transmission system enhancements in the state. Participants include Duke Energy Carolinas (“DEC”), Duke Energy Progress (“DEP”), North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (“NCEMC”) and ElectriCities of North Carolina. Since its inception in 2005, projects totaling $907 million have been identified in the NCTPC plans, with $506 million placed into service through 2014, $97 million still in the planning stage, and another $304 million being deferred outside the planning horizon or cancelled as a result of changing system requirements.
The NCTPC was established to provide the participants and other stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the electric transmission planning process for North Carolina, and to develop a single coordinated transmission plan for North Carolina electric utilities that includes reliability and enhanced transmission access considerations. The group’s priority is to appropriately balance costs, benefits and risks associated with the use of transmission and generation resources.
The scope of the 2014 NCTPC Study included a base reliability analysis for transmission needs to meet load growth between 2014 and 2024. In addition, a local economic study request was received and the NCTPC analyzed the transfer of 250 MW into the CPLW Balancing Area from the TVA Balancing Area in the 2019/2020 winter.
The 2014 Plan can be viewed on the NCTPC website under the Reference Documents section at http://www.nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp.
The major transmission projects identified in the 2014 Plan are expected to be implemented over the next 10-year planning period by the transmission owners to preserve system reliability and improve economic transfers. Major projects are defined as those requiring transmission investments of more than $10 million. These planned projects are subject to change based on evolving system conditions. The plan is updated annually.
“The 2014 NCTPC Plan illustrates the value of collaboration between North Carolina’s electric transmission owners and other electric suppliers,” said Ed Finley, chairman of the North Carolina Utilities Commission. “This work keeps North Carolina well-positioned for the future by ensuring reliable delivery of power to communities across the state and helping rate payers save money.”
“The NCTPC provides a valuable function by allowing stakeholders to better understand the electric transmission planning process for North Carolina,” said Marty Berland of ElectriCities of NC, Chairman of the NCTPC Oversight/Steering Committee (OSC). “By offering greater transparency and opportunity to provide input to the process, entities that rely on the transmission system can collaborate to develop plans for future enhancements in a manner that optimizes cost effectiveness and reliability.”
The NCTPC process includes active participation of other market participants and other stakeholders through a Transmission Advisory Group (TAG), which is open to all interested parties. Stakeholders interested in joining the TAG or receiving future information related to the NCTPC process can sign up to become a TAG participant and get on the TAG distribution list at the NCTPC website at http://www.nctpc.org/nctpc/home.jsp.
The NCTPC process includes the use of an administrative consultant to act as a facilitator for the development and conduct of the NCTPC process. This role includes Chairing the TAG and soliciting input from the other stakeholders through the open TAG meetings. The administrative consultant for the NCTPC process is Richard Wodyka, rawodyka@aol.com.
If you have any comments or questions on the NCTPC process or specifically on the 2014-2024 Collaborative Transmission Plan Study Report, please contact Marty Berland, NCTPC OSC chair (via email: mberland@electricities.org or phone 919-760-6319).
For media inquiries, please contact corporate media relations at each entity:
ElectriCities of NC (municipals)
- Rebecca Agner, (919) 760-6334; ragner@electricities.org
Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress
- Valerie Patterson, (800) 559-3853; Valerie.Patterson@duke-energy.com
NCEMC (co-ops)
- Jane Pritchard, (919) 875-3104, jane.pritchard@ncemcs.com