PETITION NO. 683
THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
Peaceable Substation
Redding, Connecticut
August 12, 2004
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On July 30, 2004, Connecticut Siting Council (Council) member Brain O’Neill and Robert Mercier of Council staff met with Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) representative Robert Charpentier at the Peaceable Substation on Peaceable Road in Ridgefield to review this petition. CL&P proposes to install two circuit switchers within the fenced area of this substation to provide for transformer protection.

The circuit switchers are needed due to the installation of underground cables on the 1470 and 1565 transmission lines. The existing trip system protecting the transformers would be ineffective since the underground cables cannot carry the trip signal that shuts down the transformers during emergencies. To resolve this issue, CL&P proposes to install two circuit switchers to provide for local transformer protection, eliminating the need for transfer trip equipment.

One circuit switcher would be installed between one of the transformers and an associated disconnect switch. To protect the other transformer, CL&P proposes to remove the existing disconnect switch and replace it with a combination disconnect switch/circuit switch. The replacement is necessary due to insufficient space between the existing disconnect switch and transformer. The new combination switch would be four feet taller than the existing disconnect switch. No expansion of the substation compound is necessary.

Visibility impacts of the proposed changes would be negligible. The substation is well screened from surrounding residences by woodlands. The proposed circuit switchers are similar in scale and appearance to existing equipment in the substation. Noise generation would be negligible.

CL&P proposes to begin construction in September 2004 with completion by February 2005.