Florida regulators approve Duke Energy transmission line project

The Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved a Duke Energy project on Tuesday.

The 26.5-mile new 230 kilovolt transmission line will connect two counties in central Florida, extending from the DeLand West Substation in Volusia County to the Dona Vista Substation in Lake County and is projected to be in service by January 2030.

The company will also build a 69-kV line on the same route to improve reliability.

A final order in the docket will be released by the commission on Aug. 8.

In an agreement, the commission staff said it agreed the project is needed.

"This project will enhance system reliability, increase power transfer capability, and better meet local load requirements," said commission Chairman Mike La Rosa. "It is also the most cost-effective and efficient alternative to increase capacity for DEF customers in this service area."

According to the filing, Duke Energy Florida "has demonstrated that if it does not add transmission capacity in the projected service area there are sufficient transmission risks that would result in power outages in the event of a double contingency event in Lake, Volusia, Seminole, and Orange counties."

The staff also said while Duke has "implemented an under voltage load shedding scheme to prevent a larger, more catastrophic collapse of the larger electric grid, the customers in the area would experience extended outages."

The filing also says an estimated 29,000 customers would experience extended power outages if the load shedding scheme is implemented. The utility also says the area surrounding the Dona Vista area will grow by 25%, in the next decade, which would worsen the issue.

The staff also agreed with the company that the line would improve service reliability in Lake, Volusia, Seminole, and Orange counties, increase the north/south power transfer capabilities and optimize power flow distribution in the Volusia and north Orlando areas, along with decreasing the load on existing circuits.

Duke serves nearly 2 million customers in Florida.