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The future of a regional power upgrade continues to grow more uncertain, as another state through which a 275-mile power line would pass considers denying the project.
Staff for the Virginia State Corporation Commission is recommending that the commission deny an application to build a section of the Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) in the state.
PATH is a joint venture of Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power, and both companies maintain that the multi-state power line is necessary to maintain reliable electric service to the region.
Todd Meyers, a spokesman for Allegheny Energy, wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette that Allegheny and American Electric Power were still reviewing the staff motion for denial as of Tuesday.
The motion, which was filed Oct. 19, states that because of the Maryland Public Service Commission's rejection of PATH's application in September, " there now exists such a level of uncertainty as to the termination point of PATH that the staff cannot discharge its duty to analyze the application and to advise the commission on whether the project should be approved, and if approved, where it should be routed."
On Sept. 9 the Maryland Public Service Commission rejected Potomac Edison's application for PATH because it would not be built by an electric company operating within Maryland, as state law requires.
PATH-Allegheny, the legal entity that would construct the line, is a joint venture Allegheny and American Electric Power, based in Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively.
The company on the application was Potomac Edison, an Allegheny subsidiary.
The Public Service Commission ruled that Potomac Edison could not transfer permission to PATH-Allegheny, which is not an electric company.
However, the commission stated that its decision should not be read as a comment on the merits of PATH, and gave Potomac Edison 30 days to state its intentions for the project.
On Oct. 9, Joseph Curran III, an attorney for Potomac Edison, delivered the letter to the commission, stating the company continued to consider its options.
Meyers said in a telephone interview Tuesday there was no further news on the status of the application in Maryland. He said the company was still deliberating on how to re-file the application.
The power line and associated substations are expected to cost $1.8 billion, and would bring electricity from a coal-fired power station in southeastern West Virginia to population centers east.
The West Virginia Public Service Commission is set to rule on PATH in June of 2010.
Meyers wrote that the companies intended to complete the PATH project, and said it is necessary to strengthen the power grid so that the companies can continue to transmit power reliably.
"Additionally, we remain committed to meeting the June 2014 in-service date identified by PJM Interconnection in order to prevent potential overloads and voltage problems in the region," Meyers wrote.
E-mail Christian Brown at chbrown@gazette.net.