LS Power selected by California ISO for 500 kV Transmission Line

DesertLink, LLC, a subsidiary of LS Power, has been selected by the California Independent System Operator (ISO) as the approved project sponsor to develop, construct, own, operate and maintain a 500 kilovolt electric transmission project.

The Harry Allen to Eldorado Project was approved by the ISO governing board for competitive solicitation in December 2014 pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order No. 1000, which was designed to foster competition in transmission planning across the U.S. The ISO accepted bids in April 2015, and has now announced the selection of DesertLink.

The project involves a 500 kV transmission line between SCE majority owned Eldorado 500 kV substation and NV Energy owned Harry Allen 500 kV substation. 

The estimated cost of the proposed 500 kV line is US$144 million in 2015 dollars.

Paul Thessen, President of LS Power Development, stated:

“We are pleased to be selected by the California ISO for this project, and we look forward to working with the ISO to complete it. The competitive process and the binding cost containment provisions we offered, including a cap on construction costs, demonstrate the benefits of competition for transmission and will result in lower costs and protection for ratepayers from cost overruns.”