
This map from the UI website shows the 4-mile route of the power lines and poles that will be replaced.
ANSONIA/DERBY/SHELTON — A virtual public hearing Thursday (July 28) on United Illuminating’s plan to rebuild the 100-year old transmission lines and supporting structures that power homes in Ansonia, Derby and Shelton drew no comments from the public.
About 20 people joined the Zoom hearing held by the Connecticut Siting Council. Most people were either members of the Siting Council or UI officials. The hearing lasted just under 10 minutes.
The public has until Aug. 27, 2022 to submit written comments to the siting council about UI’s plans. Comments can be submitted via email to siting.council@ct.gov or by regular mail to Connecticut Siting Council, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051.
According to Melanie A. Bachman, executive director/staff attorney for the Connecticut Siting Council, there will be no more public hearings on the matter, which were closed as of Thursday (July 28) night. UI has until Aug. 27, 2022 to submit any further briefs or findings of facts related to their proposal.
Bachman said a vote is likely to happen this fall.
“The CSC anticipates voting on the matter within about 30 – 60 days after the public comment record closes, but the statutory deadline for a decision is one year from the submission of the application, which in this case, is June 9, 2023,” Bachman said.
UI needs permission from the Siting Council to make various upgrades to the power grid in Ansonia, Derby and Shelton. UI services about 26,000 customers in those three towns.
UI’s plan calls for rebuilding the existing transmission lines along a 4.1‑mile corridor between‘Derby Junction’ in Shelton at Indian Wells, crossing the Housatonic River and into portions of Derby and Ansonia, ending at the existing Ansonia substation located off Wakelee Avenue.
Essentially UI is talking about replacing major transmission lines and the structures that hold them up from Shelton High School, across the Housatonic River, through Derby all the way to the area of Nolan Field in Ansonia.
The existing lines consist of 34, double circuit lattice-style structures and seven monopole structures.
UI has proposed replacing the near-100-year old structures with a combination of double circuit and a few single circuit, galvanized steel monopoles. UI officials said the purpose is to improve the reliability of the electric transmission system — built in 1924 — for customers.
UI Project Manager Kevin McMahon said a major replacement of the electric infrastructure is due.
“It’s to improve the reliability of the transmission grid, and rebuild the 115 k‑V transmission lines,” McMahon told the Siting Council during Thursday’s hearing. “The current lines provide critical connections to the Indian Wells substation (in Shelton) and the Ansonia substation. The infrastructure is nearing 100 years old.
McMahon said UI purchased the grid from the Derby Gas and Electric Co. in 1969. While some upgrades have been made over time, but McMahon said “detailed inspections and analysis of the structures” since 2012 have determined a rebuild of the system is the best option.
McMahon said letters of endorsement for the rebuild were received from each town’s top elected officials, and in this case, Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti, Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan, and Shelton Mayor Mark A. Lauretti.
The project is estimated to cost between $50 and $60 million. If approved, construction is expected to get underway in August 2023 and be completed in late 2024, according to UI officials. Customer service will not be interrupted during construction, officials said.
More information about the project can be found online at:
www.derbyjunctionansoniatransmissionlinerebuild.com or by calling 1 – 888 – 848‑3697.