Progress Energy Carolinas is committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable energy to our customers.

Past and expected growth in the area has prompted the need for a regional transmission system enhancement. To ensure the continued reliability of the transmission system that serves this area, Progress Energy Carolinas will invest an estimated $17 million to build a new electric transmission line and make improvements to existing facilities that serve Richmond County.

Progress Energy's continuous assessment of electric system needs indicates that by 2011, under certain circumstances, there could be voltage and reliability issues on the electric transmission system that serves the area. The project will help ensure a continued reliable flow of electricity.

Project Need

• Population growth and increased energy usage continue across North Carolina. The state is now the country's 10th most populous, and that significant rate of growth and increased usage is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Progress Energy expects to add 25,000 to 30,000 new homes and businesses each year as more and more people move to the Carolinas.
• Progress Energy has a responsibility to plan for meeting the future needs of its current and anticipated customers and for the needs of the region. We're doing that through a balanced approach that includes a focus on energy efficiency, increased investment in renewable energy sources, and investments in state-of-the-art power plants and delivery systems.
• Late in 2006, the N.C. Transmission Planning Collaborative issued a preliminary report that confirmed the need for improvements and upgrades in this region to enhance electric system reliability and to promote enhanced transmission access across the state. The transmission study group includes representatives from Progress Energy, Duke, the state's electric cooperatives, municipally owned electric systems and an independent third party.
• In addition to building new power plants, Progress Energy must continually enhance the transmission and distribution systems to help ensure a continuous, reliable flow of electricity to homes and businesses in the region and to provide adequate import and export capability for wholesale power through Progress Energy's service area, as required by law.
• Electricity is far too important for North Carolinians to risk service interruptions or problems with power quality due to inadequate facilities. Progress Energy and the N.C. Utilities Commission have an obligation to ensure that the electric system is maintained and upgraded appropriately.
• High-tech companies and today's highly electronic homes and businesses need reliable, high-quality electricity. This project is intended to ensure the continuation of a reliable, high-quality flow of electricity in the future.
• The upgrades will enhance system reliability for electricity consumers throughout the region, including consumers who receive electric service from providers other than Progress Energy, including NCEMC and the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency.

Today's Meeting

Today's public information meeting is designed to provide information about this project and to give you a chance to ask questions about issues associated with the project. There are six stations (Project Need, Engineering, Route Alternatives, Construction, Environmental Management and Right of Way), with Progress Energy representatives at each who are prepared to answer your questions.

Project Description

The new transmission line will begin at the Rockingham 230-kiloVolt (kV) substation (located east of the intersection of Airport Road and Mizpah Road). The line will terminate at the Lilesville 230-kV substation (located off Red Hill Mt. Vernon Road and White Road east of Highway 742). Improvements will be made to both the Rockingham and Lilesville 230-kV substations. The transmission line is expected to be attached to steel H-frame structures, standing approximately 80-90 feet tall and spaced approximately every 600-900 feet apart. The length of the line will be determined by the final route selected, but it is expected to be about 14 miles long.

Land Acquisition

Once a route is selected, Progress Energy land agents will work individually with property owners in purchasing easements for the facilities. The line will require 50 feet, or slightly more, of right of way on both sides (100-foot total easement requirement). Progress Energy pays fair value for easements, and landowners retain ownership of the property. Progress Energy also will negotiate the right to cut trees off the right of way that could jeopardize the safe operation of the line.

Schedule

The schedule calls for the route to be determined by fall 2007 (following extensive public input). Surveying and mapping of the selected route will begin late 2007, with right-of-way acquisition beginning mid-2008. Clearing is scheduled to begin in spring 2010, followed by construction of the line. The project is expected to be in service by mid-2011.

Public Participation

Progress Energy believes public participation is critical to the success of the project. The purpose of today's meeting is to provide information on the need, scope and schedule of the project and gather pertinent data from property owners and others on the proposed route. Progress Energy also will make information available via the news media and Web and will communicate directly with affected property owners and others.

Map

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