The Maine Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against Eversource Energy Service Company, or Eversource, for allegedly “mischaracterizing” a major transmission line project.
The X-178 transmission project involves reconstructing 49 miles worth of transmission facilities and roughly 580 poles in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire and is expected to cost New England ratepayers $360 million.
In a statement announcing the complaint, OPA explained that Eversource’s own analysis showed that only 41 of the poles needed to be replaced.
The $360 million price tag will be borne by ratepayers throughout the region proportionate to their respective degree of energy usage.
Because Eversource has categorized the project as an “asset condition project,” wherein “damaged or destroyed” infrastructure is replaced.
Although stakeholder input was sought, Eversource is able to move forward regardless of stakeholder concerns due to this designation.
“By Eversource’s own admission, fewer than 10 percent of the poles involved in this project are in need of replacement,” explained Heather Sanborn, Maine’s Public Advocate.
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Maine Public Advocate Files Complaint Over Energy Company’s Alleged Mischaracterization of $360M NH Transmission Line Project
by Long Islander
yesterday
By Libby Palanza
May 15, 2026
The Maine Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against Eversource Energy Service Company, or Eversource, for allegedly “mischaracterizing” a major transmission line project.
The X-178 transmission project involves reconstructing 49 miles worth of transmission facilities and roughly 580 poles in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire and is expected to cost New England ratepayers $360 million.
In a statement announcing the complaint, OPA explained that Eversource’s own analysis showed that only 41 of the poles needed to be replaced.
The $360 million price tag will be borne by ratepayers throughout the region proportionate to their respective degree of energy usage.
Because Eversource has categorized the project as an “asset condition project,” wherein “damaged or destroyed” infrastructure is replaced.
Although stakeholder input was sought, Eversource is able to move forward regardless of stakeholder concerns due to this designation.
“By Eversource’s own admission, fewer than 10 percent of the poles involved in this project are in need of replacement,” explained Heather Sanborn, Maine’s Public Advocate.
Continue reading at https://www.themainewire.com/2026/05/maine-public-advocate-files-complaint-over-energy-companys-alleged-mischaracterization-of-360m-nh-transmission-line-project/
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Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.