MPSC To Hold Virtual Public Hearing On New Lines Proposed By Michigan Electric Transmission

LANSING – The Michigan Public Service Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on October 3 from 6 to 9 pm  to take comment relating to major electric transmission upgrades proposed by Michigan Electric Transmission Co. (METC) (Case No. U-21471).

The meeting will be virtual only, with participation available via livestream on Microsoft Teams or by phone. The public may participate by using the hearing link or by dialing 248-509-0316 and entering the conference ID 752540610# when prompted.

Under Public Act 30 of 1995, the MPSC has authority for siting of transmission lines in Michigan that are more than 5 miles long and that transfer 345 kilovolts (kV) or more electricity. In Act 30 cases, which are contested, the Commission must issue an order within a year of an application.

If it finds the project necessary and in the public interest, the Commission may, under law, grant approval of the preferred route or the alternate route proposed by the transmission line owner. Or the Commission may deny the application. Additional information about how transmission cases are conducted is available at the MPSC’s Act 30 webpage.

METC has applied for approval of two certificates of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for two new electric transmission lines in the central and southern Lower Peninsula. One is the Nelson Road to Oneida project, a 39-mile, 345 kV double circuit line between substations in Gratiot County and Eaton counties. The other is the Helix to Hiple project, a 55-mile, 345 kV double circuit line between substations in Calhoun and Branch counties. In addition, METC seeks a certificate for the construction of a new Helix Substation.

Persons needing assistance to participate should contact the Commission’s Executive Secretary at 517-284-8090 in advance of the hearing and are encouraged to do so by Sept. 20, 2024. Additional information about participating in the hearing is available in the MPSC’s public notice.

The hearing will encompass two major transmission lines. Case No. U-21472 has been consolidated into Case No. U-21471.

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