Energy Gateway

Bringing new transmission to the West

Attention has focused on our nation's electrical transmission system, especially in the West where there has been very little investment in new transmission infrastructure for nearly 20 years. During that time, population, communities and demand for electricity in the region have increased significantly. The transmission system is reaching capacity in many places and faces bottlenecks in others.

Our parent company, PacifiCorp, is leading the way to change that. In May 2007, PacifiCorp launched the Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion project – an ambitious, multi-year $6 billion plus investment that will add approximately 2,000 miles of new transmission line across the West. Energy Gateway, and projects planned by other entities, will alleviate constraints and address current and future growth of many kinds.

Today construction is underway on one Energy Gateway segment and outreach, siting and permitting processes continue for several others. Major segments are scheduled to be in service by 2014.

Among its benefits, Energy Gateway will provide access to conventional energy sources and connect areas where renewable energy development possibilities are strong, as shown in these regional maps of wind (PDF), solar, biomass and geothermal (PDF) potential. Learn more about how Energy Gateway supports renewable resource development (PDF).

Along with population and energy demand growth, investment in our transmission system also is driven by our required Integrated Resource Plan. This plan identifies a need for more transmission lines to deliver electricity from new generating resources – either from new generating plants or to provide a path for additional energy purchases from other entities in the region.

The Energy Gateway map shows the individual segment additions to the transmission system to complete the expansion at its potential full build. Depending on regional, third-party and local participation, the final lines may vary somewhat. PacifiCorp is taking every reasonable step to accommodate broad regional transmission needs but will, at minimum, build Energy Gateway to first meet our commitment to provide our customers with safe, reliable and reasonably priced electrical service.

Read more about this important investment in the Energy Gateway fact sheet (PDF), or get answers to frequently asked questions (PDF).

Links to Energy Gateway and local transmission project segment information can be found below. We update these pages regularly as new information becomes available.