PHOENIX - The Arizona Corporation Commission approved plans for the Southwest Valley Transmission Line proposed by Arizona Public Service (APS) and the Salt River Project (SRP). The 500 kilovolt (kV) power line will stretch approximately 37 miles from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station to a substation in the southwest valley community of Avondale, Arizona. The main 500 kV transmission line is expected to be in service by the summer of 2003.

The Siting Committee recommendation included 28 separate conditions designed to address environmental and aesthetic concerns as well as engineering aspects of the project. The Commissioners ordered the addition of one condition to make the siting consistent with other recent cases.

The Commissioners also changed the time frame for construction and implementation of the 500 kV portion of the line transmission line. The applicants indicated that the line should be in service by summer 2003 so the Commissioners amended the authorization to construct from three years down to two. The applicants will need to appear before the Commission if the process will take longer than two years. Shortening the time frame allowed the Commissioners to minimize the duration of construction activities and also hasten the acquisition of land needed for the right of way.

The Cities of Avondale and Goodyear, as well as the Town of Buckeye supported the transmission line. Buckeye and Avondale had earlier expressed concerns about the project but managed to resolve their concerns prior to the Commission review. The project was opposed by an affected landowner, Mr. Sol Berg. The Buckeye Water Conservation & Drainage District and Roosevelt Irrigation District also opposed the project.