Electric utility United Illuminating said Wednesday that the cost of designing and building a proposed underground transmission system from Bridgeport to Fairfield would be about $838 million. That’s about a half-billion dollars more than the estimated cost of rebuilding the overhead transmission system at $306 million. UI says the aging transmission infrastructure, which runs along Metro-North railroad, needs to be upgraded to maintain current levels of railroad service. If the Siting Council approved the overhead solution proposed by UI, the roughly $300 million cost would be spread across those 14 million customers. However, if the Siting Council approved the underground option, Connecticut ratepayers would be responsible for the additional $500 million, according to UI.
https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/underground-transmission-line-project-could-cost-ct-residents-500m