OREANDA-NEWS. Governors of the California Independent System Operator have approved a 2014-15 transmission plan that identifies eight projects with a total estimated cost of \$359mn and may consider another \$150mn project after more review.

The costliest projects selected in the 2014-15 plan are in the Pacific Gas & Electric service territory, with a \$254mn estimated price tag. One of those projects will reinforce the high-voltage transmission network on the San Francisco peninsula, which is especially vulnerable to lengthy outages in case of catastrophic earthquakes.

The San Diego Gas & Electric territory will feature four transmission projects selected for reliability reasons. Southern California Edison has one proposed project.

None of the approved projects qualify for competitive solicitations. Several qualified in the most recent annual planning cycle, which included 28 projects for a total of \$1.7bn. Only two non-incumbents have been selected as project sponsors in the 2013-14 cycle so far.

Federal mandates have abolished preferential rights for incumbent transmission providers to work on upgrades of existing infrastructure. But incumbents still win almost every competitive transmission awards.

The 2014-15 transmission planning exercise has not selected any projects to support achieving the state-mandated 33pc renewable portfolio standard because utilities and the state's primary grid are moving fast to achieve that goal.

But the grid operator still is assessing transmission needs for renewable generation in southern California's Imperial Valley, home to vast solar and wind resources.

Another proposal, the Buck-Colorado River-Julian Hinds Loop-in project, requires more study and may be presented for approval this year, the grid operator said. The project is in the Southern California Edison territory.