January 2012 Capital Investment - National Grid

Exhibit ___ (EIOP-19)Page 117 of 684Area SummaryKey drivers behind the transmission and distribution capacity projects in the Northeasttransmission study include the following:• Load growth associated with the Luther Forest industrial load and the general areadistribution load growth that is stimulated by the economic impact of the LutherForest development during the period from 2012-2019. In particular, increasedcapacity is required to avoid 115kV line and 230kV/115kV transformer overloads andto support adequate system post-contingency voltage levels.• New distribution stations at Sodemann Road and Randall Road.A major driver of asset condition work in the area is replacement of metalclad switchgear atthree (3) stations.Area DescriptionThe Northeast transmission study area serves approximately 144,200 customers. The studyarea extends approximately 90 miles north along the western border of Vermont, fromCambridge in the south to Westport in the north, and extends approximately 45 miles to thewest at its widest point to Indian Lake. The area incorporates the southeastern section ofthe Adirondack State Park. Much of the area load is concentrated in the southern portion ofthe study area, along Interstate I-87 and US Route 9, particularly in the Towns of BallstonSpa, Saratoga Springs and Glen Falls. Some of the areas offer summer recreation and seea spike in load during the summer months.The 115kV system runs primarily in a north-south direction on both sides of Lake George.There is a single radial line, east of Lake George, which runs north from Whitehallsubstation, which extends to the NYSEG system and also continues north to the Port Henrysubstation. The western 115kV radial line extends from the Spier Falls substation to theNorth Creek substation in the Adirondack State Park. There is an extensive 34.5kV systemin the northwestern section of the study area supplying smaller towns along interstate I-87and Route 28.In the Northeast transmission study area there is one distribution study area, also calledNortheast. The Northeast distribution study area has a total of 111 distribution feeders thatsupply customers in this area. There are eighty-seven 13.2kV feeders, with twenty-fivebeing supplied from 34.5-13.2kV transformers, and the rest supplied by 115-13.2kVtransformers; Thirty-five 34.5kV sub-transmission lines that supply the distribution step downtransformers in the area; Ten 4.8kV feeders with six supplied by 34.5-4.8kV transformers;and Fourteen 4.16kV feeders all supplied by 34.5-4.16kV transformers.V - 3118