Commission Watch

PUC could oust PG&E from the project, finding no need for an upgrade.

Nearly a year after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its blessing for upgrading California's notorious "Path 15" transmission bottleneck, an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has thrown a monkeywrench into the plan.

In a tentative decision issued on March 7 (which will require further review by the full state commission), the ALJ found no economic need for the project and would deny permission to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) to continue to play a part in the multi-party project. .

But Trans-Elect President and COO Bernie Schroeder remains defiant, insisting that the California PUC will not stop his company from going forward on the project, worth more than $300 million. Trans-Elect would be supplying most of the funding, with PG&E upgrading existing substations and low-voltage facilities, and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) adding new construction, as well as taking title to the transmission line and land.

"It will have no impact on us, and if they don't build it, presumably we will find somebody who will," Schroeder explained.

"Financing is pretty much in place," he added. "It is being syndicated right now, and I don't have any doubts about it, I can tell you that."