Hartford, Conn., begins $316 million underground transmission upgrade
(UI) — Eversource has started a $315.8 million project to modernize underground power lines in Hartford, replacing 115-kilovolt cables that have been in service since the 1970s, according to Hartford Business.
The Hartford Underground Cable Modernization Project will replace about 7 miles of aging fluid-filled lines with newer solid dielectric XLPE cables, designed to improve reliability and eliminate the risk of oil leaks.
Construction began in April 2025 and is scheduled to finish in late 2026, with the new system expected online by the end of 2027. The Connecticut Siting Council approved the project in June 2024.
The upgrades affect two major links in the city’s grid: the 1,722 Line, which runs 2.9 miles from Northwest to Southwest Hartford substations, and the 1,704 Line, a 3.8-mile segment connecting to South Meadow Substation. Work is being carried out mostly within existing street corridors to limit disruptions.
According to Hartford Business, Eversource says the modernization will cut environmental risks, extend cable life, and make future repairs faster and less disruptive, as maintenance on the new XLPE system can be done in manholes rather than through excavation.
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