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Bristers Ladysmith
Project Overview
It has become necessary to address an aging electric transmission line, which has been in operation for more than five decades, between our Bristers and Ladysmith substations located along an existing corridor in Fauquier, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Caroline counties. The rebuild will bring facilities up to current reliability and safety standards.
The 500 kilovolt (kV) line is approximately 37-miles in length and requires no new right of way to rebuild to current electrical safety and electrical requirements.
Community Engagement
At Dominion Energy, we are committed to keeping our neighbors informed about energy needs where they live and work. As the project develops, we will:
- Continue outreach by communicating with legislators, homeowners associations and other identified stakeholders
- Host local open houses to answer questions from residents and area businesses
- Provide ongoing communications through informational materials, mailings, email updates and a project website
Benefits
- Maintains current right of way
- New structures located in the same general location as existing structures
- Complies with mandatory standards to ensure safety, reliability and to meet future needs
- Replaces aging infrastructure
Timeline
- Fall 2024 – Project Area Restored
- Late 2023 – Target completion date.
- Fall 2022 – Construction Phase 2 (Chancellor-Ladysmith) began.
- Summer 2021 – Construction Phase 1 (Bristers-Chancellor) began.
- Feb. 11, 2021 – The SCC issued its Final Order approving the Bristers-Ladysmith 500 kV Rebuild Project.
- Q1 2021 – Requested date for SCC approval.
- May 15, 2020 – Filed application with SCC.
Documents
Construction Related Impacts
Traffic
This project is not expected to impact traffic.
Noise
Noise levels will be minimal; permits are in place.
Neighborhood
Access to surrounding neighborhoods may be impacted.
FAQs
For more questions and concerns, please call M-F 8am-5pm at 888-291-0190 or email at powerline@dominionenergy.com.
There will be several community open house events in spring 2020 where the public can meet with our subject matter experts to learn details on the project. In addition, the Transmission Application Process Chart outlines how the public can become involved in the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) approval process. You can also contact us to add your mailing address and email address to our distribution list.
The proposed project seeks to replace existing overhead structures with new overhead structures within the existing right of way. In doing so, the line will be rebuilt to current safety and industry standards.
As part of the regulatory application process, Dominion Energy completes an evaluation of potential environmental, cultural and historical impacts of the project. Dominion Energy works with local, state and federal agencies to complete these evaluations and mitigate any impacts. All required permits are obtained and permitting conditions are met. Permitting agencies typically include the Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. Commenting agencies include the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, among others.
Our enterprise-wide environmental report describes our commitment to the responsible stewardship of natural resources and provides a wealth of information on environmental management and performance. We also invite you to read our Corporate Environmental Policy and our Greenhouse Gas Report.
Legal
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is responsible for verifying the need, route and environmental impact of transmissions lines in Virginia. Documents related to the case are made available to the public on the SCC Docket Search section of the SCC web site, in the “Search Cases” section (enter case number PUR-2020-00080). In addition, interested parties may also comment directly to the SCC by sending an email to sccinfo@scc.virginia.gov.
- Feb. 11, 2021 – SCC issued final order, approving the project .
- May 15, 2020 – Filed application with SCC
Maps
Presentations and Open House Info
Timeline
2024
2021
February 11
The SCC issued its Final Order approving the Bristers-Ladysmith 500 kV Rebuild Project.
View SCC Final Order
Q1 2021
Requested date for SCC approval
2020
November 19
Cancelled - Evidentiary hearing (10 a.m. at SCC or electronically TBD)
November 18
Cancelled - Public witness hearing (by phone and SCC webcast)
November 17
The SCC Hearing Examiner ruled that based on consideration of the filings and absent any public comment/testimony, that the public witness hearing scheduled for Nov.18, 2020 and the hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2020, are both cancelled.
View Hearing Cancellation
May 15
File application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)
April
Community engagement continues. Project video and simulation public launch.
February - March
Met with local elected officials; Project website launched; Dedicated email/phone open; Solicit input from cultural advocacy groups
Construction Timeline
2022
December 2022
Target Completion date for Phase 1 – Bristers Chancellor
Fall 2022
Phase 2 - Chancellor-Ladysmith Preconstruction activity expected to begin
2021
May
Pre-construction activity began at Bristers Substation, working south toward Chancellor Substation.
April
Letter sent to Phase 1 of the project (Bristers-Chancellor) about construction activity beginning.
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