Connecticut lawmakers, regulators and industry weigh grid-enhancing technologies to expand capacity and curb costs

State lawmakers, regulators and industry representatives met Feb. 6 before the Connecticut General Assembly's Energy and Technology Committee to review grid-enhancing technologies and advanced transmission conductors as near-term options to increase electric capacity, improve efficiency and limit ratepayer costs.

Representative Jonathan Steinberg, House chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, opened the forum saying it was an opportunity “for all of us to learn about how we can further enhance the grid that we have and the grid that we need to have going forward.” The panel included state officials, utility and grid vendors who described specific technologies, pilot results and federal funding avenues.

The discussion centered on why GETs matter now: Connecticut and neighboring New England states expect rising electricity demand tied to electrification, data centers and manufacturing. Katie Dykes, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said ATTs (advanced transmission technologies) “can cost effectively increase the capacity and the efficiency and the reliability and the safety of power lines, faster than traditional infrastructure and at a lower cost, or with higher net benefits.” She highlighted three technology classes discussed during the hearing: dynamic line ratings, advanced power-flow control and topology optimization.

Panelists and regulators said GETs and advanced conductors can be deployed faster than building new lines…