A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision Friday means Delmarva Peninsula residents - including those in Delaware - will pay for the lion’s share of a $400 million energy transmission line that will benefit 13 states.
The Artificial Island transmission line project connects Delaware to nuclear power in New Jersey and was designed to increase stability in the regional power grid.
The Delaware Public Services Commission filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in August saying the project will benefit the entire region but Delaware is stuck shouldering a large portion of the costs.
"90 percent of the cost of this $400 million project is being put on these customers who are only going to see about 10 percent of the benefit of the project,” said Heather Contant, ombudsman for the Delaware Public Services Commission.
The federal commission rejected that argument Friday. It decided that Delaware has to pay for a large portion of the project because much of the energy will flow through Delaware.
The state has two choices now. It can appeal the decision or it can go to court.
“However, you know, getting involved in a court case is going to cost a good amount of money, so we’re definitely weighing our options,” Contant said.
The state will decide in the next two weeks whether to appeal the decision.
Pennsylvania-based company PJM is overseeing the Artificial Island project. It issued a comment by email saying it’s working to bring costs down. The company stressed that the current price tag is not final.
