An estimated 70 percent of transmission and distribution lines are well into the second half of their 50-year life expectancy, and some lower voltage components are even over 100 years old. The report finds that reconductoring and rebuilding existing transmission pathways using advanced conductors can help accelerate the decarbonization of the power grid by creating a significant amount of new transmission capacity more quickly and more cost-effectively than new, large-scale transmission. The report also makes recommendations that the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could adopt in their upcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on transmission planning, cost allocation, and interconnection queue reform, as well as recommendations for transmission planners and owners, public utility commissioners and legislators, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
