NEW HAMPSHIRE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
ORDER No. 26, 023
DE 16-849
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
June 12, 2017
Petition
for License to Cross Public Waters on Lake Winnipesaukee in
the Town of Gilford
Order
Nisi Granting License
Martin
P. Honigberg, Chairman
In this
order nisi, the Commission grants the petition of
the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NHEC), for a
license to reconstruct and maintain electric cable and
conduit under Lake Winnipesaukee, from Mark Island to Mink
Island, in the town of Gilford, New Hampshire. This order is
being issued on a nisi basis to ensure that all
interested parties receive notice of the Commission's
order and have the opportunity to comment or request a
hearing before the order becomes effective.
I.
SUMMARY OF PETITION
On
November 9, 2016, NHEC filed a petition pursuant to RSA
371:17 for a license to reconstruct and maintain an electric
cable and conduit under Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford. In
support of its petition, the Company filed testimony of Dean
Benton, NHEC's Plant Administrator.
Mink
Island is in Lake Winnipesaukee. It lies within NHEC's
service territory and currently has 18 residences. The cable
providing electric service to Mink Island from Mark Island
contains a deteriorating neutral that could cause voltage
problems in the future if not replaced. NHEC intends to
replace the line from an existing pole on Mark Island running
underneath Lake Winnipesaukee to Mink Island. According to
the petition, if the line is not replaced, NHEC will be
unable to continue to provide electric service to the
residents of Mink Island and that in order to meet the
reasonable requirements of service to the public, it is
necessary that NHEC reconstruct and lay a distribution line
under Lake Winnipesaukee from Mark Island to Mink Island.
NHEC
filed supporting attachments and exhibits with the petition.
The petition and subsequent docket filings, other than any
information for which confidential treatment is requested of
or granted by the Commission, are posted to the
Commission's website at
http://puc.nh.gov/Regulatory/Docketbk/2016/16-849.html.
A.
History
In
1974, the Commission granted NHEC's petition to construct
and maintain an underwater cable across Lake Winnipesaukee
from Mark Island to Mink Island. Order No. 11, 579, DE 74-168
(September 30, 1974).
B.
Crossing Location and Construction
A
contractor approved by NHEC will replace the deteriorating
line with a new cable from NHEC Pole #11528/17 located on the
property...
