• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

PG&E Completes Jefferson-Martin 230-Kv Transmission Line in San Mateo County; Will Close Hunters Point Power Plant in May

Posted on: Monday, 1 May 2006, 21:00 CDT

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company has released into service a new transmission line in San Mateo County, bringing the utility within two weeks of closing its last San Francisco power plant while bringing more power and added reliability to the region.

"PG&E has worked long and hard to plan and build transmission projects that will allow us to close Hunters Point Power Plant, just as we promised," said Tom King, president and CEO of PG&E. "Completing this transmission line is a major accomplishment, not only because of the added reliability it brings to the region, but because it is one of the last remaining projects needed for the plant to be closed."

The Jefferson-Martin 230,000 volt Transmission Line was released into service on Saturday, April 29 -- within schedule and at a cost of $221 million. All but three miles of the 27-mile line are underground within roadways, with the remainder overhead in an existing utility corridor along the edge of a watershed. A short, temporary overhead portion spans the roadway above Crystal Springs Dam near Hillsborough. That portion will eventually be replaced with an underground line when the county rebuilds the bridge.

PG&E will permanently close the plant on May 15, following today's notification to the California ISO that the Jefferson-Martin line is in commercial service. The "reliability must-run" contract, under which PG&E is obligated to operate the plant at the ISO's direction, will terminate 10 business days after the California ISO is notified the line is in service. However, the plant will very likely not generate any electricity during this time due to electricity provided by Jefferson-Martin line.

"This is an important next step toward the closure of Hunters Point Power Plant. For the last several decades, the residents of the Southeast have worked tirelessly to shut down this power plant. Today, thanks to the unflagging commitment of the community -- and the good will of PG&E -- we are on the eve of a new era for San Francisco's Southeast," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

The California ISO has required PG&E to run the plant to assure continued reliable electric service in the region, but completion of the last of nine key transmission projects allows PG&E to maintain reliable service without the plant.

"The closure of the Hunters Point Power Plant is nearly here," said Linda Richardson, chair of the CloseIt! Coalition and nearby resident. "We are all very pleased that the hard work and effort of the community, and PG&E working with us, has paid off. This is a historic occasion that will be celebrated for a long time to come."

The Jefferson-Martin line connects two namesake substations in Redwood City and Brisbane, and can carry as much as 400 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power more than 300,000 homes. Electric demand in the region continues to grow and the transmission line is needed to increase reliability for the cities of Hillsborough, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, Pacifica and San Francisco.

The CAISO board of governors approved the need for the line in April 2002, and PG&E submitted its application to the California Public Utilities Commission in September 2002. After nearly two years of environmental review, with 38 proposed routes, and the most comprehensive environmental impact report for any transmission project in California, the CPUC settled on a final route. PG&E then finalized engineering on the line and started construction in January 2005. Construction was expected to take 16-17 months and it was finished in time, despite recent heavy rains.

For more information about Pacific Gas and Electric Company, please visit the

company's Web site at http://www.pge.com/

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

CONTACT: PG&E News Department, +1-415-973-5930

Web site: http://www.pge.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

More News in this Category