Virtual Contingency Open Meeting - March 20, 2026 Virtual only

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Arizona Corporation Commission 15 min 7 agenda items transcribed 3 days ago official recording ↗

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What items were on the agenda for the March 20, 2026 Virtual Contingency Open Meeting?

Chair Myers 0:00

Well, it looks like we are now at ten o'clock, so I'll go ahead and Call this meeting to order. Um So we only have one item today, so uh uh Vice Chair Walden.

Vice Chair Walden 0:14

I move item one for discussion.

Chair Myers 0:17

All right, and uh Chairman Stafford of the Power Plant and Line Sighting Committee. Please. Describe the item.

Chairman Stafford 0:25

Good morning, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Commissioners. This is line setting case two fifty seven is the application of APS or certificate of environmental compatibility for the Bianco transmission line project. The transmission line project consists of Two two thirty K V uh approximately two point seven five mile long lines. Uh the first will be built on double circuit two thirty KV capable structures with uh sixty nine KV underbuilt capability. It will connect the planned Bianco substation to the existing Santa Rosa Desert Basin transmission line to the northeast. And the second line is a Uh another two hundred thirty KB line built on double circuit two thirty five hundred KV cable structures that will connect the planned Bianca substation to the existing Santa Rosa Desert Basit line.

Chairman Stafford 1:17

To the north. Uh both of the two hundred thirty KV circuits will be built on double circuit capable structures in an effort to plan for future needs of the area. Circuit one will be built on structures capable of supporting another two hundred thirty KV line in the future, and circuit two will be built on structures capable of supporting a future five hundred KV line. That certificate was approved by the committee eleven to zero. I'm available for any questions.

Chair Myers 1:42

Great. Thank you, sir. Um staff, any comments from commission staff?

Britton Baxter 1:50

Good morning, Mr Chair, Vice Chair, Commissioners, Britton Baxter for staff. No comments from staff, and we're available to answer any questions. Great, thank you. Um, APS.

How is the Bianco Transmission Line project described and what are its key technical specifications?

Matt Durstein 2:01

Good morning. Um Matt Durstein appearing on behalf of the Arizona Public Service Company, Chairman Myers, Vice Chair Walden, Commissioners. I thought this might be my first open meeting appearance in my pajamas, but I see we're on Webex, so I had to put on a A coat and a tie for the occasion. Um Uh appearing with me is Ms. Linda Benale. She's a senior attorney at Pinnacle West Law Department, and Mr. Jason Spitzkoff. who is the manager of strategic transmission for Arizona Public Service. Um I think this this commission is well aware, the Canal County is experiencing significant growth. It's uh if not leading the state, it's it's right up there in terms of business growth and residential growth. Um Panal County and in particular the area around Casa Grand.

Matt Durstein 2:57

Is now being considered a major tech or innovation hub that's due in part to its location. It's uh proximity to the I ten, I eight, and the um planned state route five oh five. It's also near uh rail service, so it's uh become a an important location for Companies that are Developing chemicals and other materials that support Companies like T SNC. Intel and other high tech uh companies. It's also a major logistics um hub be for the reasons that I just mentioned, it's location to transportation. And it's that growth that's driving this project.

Why is the Bianco area considered a growth hub and how does that drive the transmission project?

Matt Durstein 3:46

The Bianco transmission project, as the chairman described, involves Um citing and constructing two new transmission lines that will connect. The new Bianco substation to the existing um Desert basin line. Um this area surrounding Cassagrand is is served by the Cassagrand substation. That substation is no longer adequate on its own to serve the growth in this area. And that's the reason for the new Bianco substation. And this project, the two two hundred thirty KV transmission lines will attach and plug in this substation. to the grid, allowing it to serve the growth in the area. Um this project involved a significant amount of um Early Citing in terms of Analyzing different routes. Route segments that could use be used to develop a line.

Matt Durstein 4:48

Or the two new line segments. Um and that process was supported by an extensive public outreach and engagement process. The comp the project team used. Three newsletters. Um that went out to over Four thousand re area residents and landowners.