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PSC grants BGE discretionary waiver for transmission rebuilds tied to PJM reliability findings
Summary
The Public Service Commission granted Baltimore Gas and Electric a discretionary (good-cause) waiver of the CPCN requirement for two transmission upgrade projects after staff and PPRP concluded the work addresses PJM reliability violations; the commission did not grant the mandatory waiver standard for one segment.
The Public Service Commission on Feb. 19 granted Baltimore Gas and Electric Company a discretionary waiver of the certificate of public convenience and necessity requirement for two transmission upgrade projects that staff and the Power Plant Research Program (PPRP) said are necessary to address projected PJM reliability violations.
Staff summarized BGE’s filing, noting the projects were previously proposed as part of the Independence Energy Connection (TransSource) portfolio and that PJM now lists the work as necessary to avoid thermal and other reliability violations. Staff recommended a discretionary good-cause waiver under PUA §7-207(b)(3)(ii) rather than a mandatory waiver under §7-207(b)(4)(i), and PPRP supported staff’s recommendation with updated conditions.
Why it matters: BGE presented the rebuilt segments as baseline reliability projects that PJM determined will be needed by mid-2027 to avoid single-contingency (N-1) thermal overloads. Staff and BGE said the upgrades are independent reliability actions that are not contingent on approvals elsewhere in PJM or in Pennsylvania.
BGE asked the commission to treat one segment (Cornerstone to Northwest No. 2, ~24.1 miles) as qualifying for a mandatory waiver; staff disagreed, citing slightly larger foundations required for some towers and recommended a discretionary good-cause waiver instead. BGE argued the foundation changes are de minimis and pressed for a mandatory waiver for that segment, but commissioners voted to grant the discretionary waiver while noting disagreement about mandatory-waiver conditions.
Cost and scope: BGE described two project components: (1) a 1.4-mile modification of an existing 230 kV line near the Greyston/Harford County area tying into an existing PPL line at the state border; and (2) the modification of roughly 24.1 miles of existing 230 kV right-of-way between the Cornerstone and Northwest No. 2 substations in Harford and Baltimore counties. BGE estimated the combined project cost in public filings at roughly $121.7 million; company witnesses said the cost estimate increased between earlier design stages and the current, higher-design-percentage stage.
Commission action: A motion to grant a discretionary good-cause waiver (with staff’s conditions and the PPRP-recommended updates) passed on recorded votes. Commissioners Sussman, Barbet and Richard voted in favor. The commission’s order incorporates updated conditions from PPRP, including administrative updates the program proposed.
Speakers who appeared on the record include BGE counsel Brent Valea and staff members who presented analyses. PPRP deputy director Fred Kelly answered procedural questions and explained why the spotted lanternfly mitigation condition in prior orders was updated to reflect current Department of Agriculture quarantine guidance.
Ending: The commission’s discretionary waiver allows BGE to proceed with the rebuilds under the specified conditions; the record shows the work is intended to address PJM-identified reliability violations with the timetable PJM provided.
