Maine electric customers could shell out $40 million dollars to finance a major power line upgrade in New Hampshire over the objection of consumer advocates.
Maine Public Advocate William Harwood said a $400 million electric transmission development by energy company Eversource is unnecessary and too expensive.
The company plans to upgrade a 49-mile power corridor with metal poles and other improvements.
But the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee overseeing the development ruled Harwood's office had no place in the matter since the committee has no authority to set electric rates.
Harwood said that Maine consumers should have a voice in whether the development is prudent and reasonable. Now that his office's move to intervene has been denied he's not sure how it can meaningfully oppose costs that may be tacked onto Maine electric bills.
"I think at this point we’re struggling with what the next step is, there’s no easy answer," Harwood said.
Maine and other New England states share the cost of transmission lines under rules from the regional grid operator.
A representative for the site evaluation committee declined to comment.
In an email, Eversource spokesperson Jamie Ratliff said the transmission project would benefit electric customers across New England by providing reliable power.
About 40% of the structures on the corridor need to be replaced and an entire rebuild now will be more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible than periodic replacements over time, Ratliff said.
The project needs additional state and federal environmental permits, Ratliff added.
"This line rebuild is critical to enhancing reliability for customers as we make the transmission system more resilient to the increasingly extreme weather we’re experiencing in New England and addressing aging infrastructure that in many cases was originally built over 50 years ago," he said.
This story has been updated to add comment from Eversource.
