Maine Public | By Peter McGuire Published May 13, 2026 at 3:55 PM EDT
The Maine Office of the Public Advocate has launched a legal challenge to block a 49-mile power line rebuilding project in New Hampshire.
The $360 million project called X-178 would replace 49 miles of transmission line and nearly 580 utility poles in western New Hampshire.
Maine Public Advocate Heather Sanborn said owner Eversource Energy Service Co. hasn't proven that the entire line needs to be replaced. Instead Eversource is trying to "shoehorn" a full rebuild into an asset condition project, Sanborn said.
Those project are meant to repair damaged equipment and do not have the same level of regulatory oversight and planning that large-scale transmission developments do, according to Sanborn.
"The asset condition process is supposed to be limited to transmission assets that are damaged or destroyed," Sanborn said in an interview.
"It's not supposed to be for the full rebuild of a non-damaged transmission line that is fully functioning" with more than 90% of its utility poles in good quality, Sanborn added.
Electric customers across New England share the cost of new transmission lines and upgrades. Maine would shoulder about 10% of the cost, said Public Advocate Heather Sanborn.
"So it is really important that all the states have the opportunity to scrutinize this particular transmission line, because we are all going to have to pay for it," Sanborn said.
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Maine Public Advocate sues to block New Hampshire transmission line
by Long Islander
1 hour ago
Maine Public | By Peter McGuire
Published May 13, 2026 at 3:55 PM EDT
The Maine Office of the Public Advocate has launched a legal challenge to block a 49-mile power line rebuilding project in New Hampshire.
The $360 million project called X-178 would replace 49 miles of transmission line and nearly 580 utility poles in western New Hampshire.
Maine Public Advocate Heather Sanborn said owner Eversource Energy Service Co. hasn't proven that the entire line needs to be replaced. Instead Eversource is trying to "shoehorn" a full rebuild into an asset condition project, Sanborn said.
Those project are meant to repair damaged equipment and do not have the same level of regulatory oversight and planning that large-scale transmission developments do, according to Sanborn.
"The asset condition process is supposed to be limited to transmission assets that are damaged or destroyed," Sanborn said in an interview.
"It's not supposed to be for the full rebuild of a non-damaged transmission line that is fully functioning" with more than 90% of its utility poles in good quality, Sanborn added.
Electric customers across New England share the cost of new transmission lines and upgrades. Maine would shoulder about 10% of the cost, said Public Advocate Heather Sanborn.
"So it is really important that all the states have the opportunity to scrutinize this particular transmission line, because we are all going to have to pay for it," Sanborn said.
Continue reading at https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-05-13/maine-public-advocate-sues-to-block-new-hampshire-transmission-line
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.