Western Massachusetts Electric Co., a unit of Northeast Utilities Inc. in Hartford, says it has received Massachusetts approval for a $22 million upgrade to a transmission line between Agawam and West Springfield.
WMECo said it will rebuild two 115-kilovolt circuits along 2.5 miles of a transmission right of way. The two circuits will be relocated from a single row of towers to two rows to reduce the potential for an incident such as lightning or a downed tree to disrupt service.
The utility said plans to break ground on the project in early summer if other permits are approved and begin operating in mid-2011.
WMECo serves about 200,000 customers in 59 communities in western Massachusetts.
