daily · Grid & Utilities

PSE plans $80.4 million transmission upgrades; federal award finalization remains ahead

Project PULSE proposes 23 miles of line upgrades and 178 rating sensors across 323 miles. The October 6 utility release separates planned 2027-2031 work from capacity operating today.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published October 12, 2026 · Updated 10/12/2026

Puget Sound Energy's October 6 release describes approximately $40.2 million in federal support for Project PULSE, with an equal utility investment bringing the proposed total to about $80.4 million. PSE and the Department of Energy are still working to finalize the grant award. The announcement is not evidence that the upgrades are operating or that the full federal amount has already been paid.

PSE expands PULSE as Puget Upgrades for Line Capacity, System Flexibility, and Energy Resilience. Its proposed implementation period runs from 2027 through 2031. The utility plans to upgrade four existing 115-kV transmission segments, totaling approximately 23 miles, in King and Kitsap counties through advanced reconductoring and other line work.

Two named Kitsap projects are South Bremerton to Long Lake #1 and Kitsap to South Bremerton #1. PSE estimates that more than $21 million of the overall project investment would go to the scoped reconductoring and upgrades in Kitsap County. That county estimate is part of the overall project, not an additional federal award.

The plan also calls for 178 Dynamic Line Rating sensors across 323 miles of transmission lines in Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Kittitas and Thurston counties. The sensors would provide real-time operating data to improve use of existing lines. Sensor coverage and reconductored mileage are different measures and should not be added together as new transmission construction.

PSE expects more than 153,000 customers to benefit, including critical infrastructure such as Naval Base Kitsap and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The utility describes reliability, flexibility and resilience benefits from upgrading existing infrastructure rather than building new facilities. These are expected project benefits, not a verified change in current outages or household bills.

Limits: the release identifies DOE's SPARK selection announcement as September 24 and says award finalization is still ahead. It does not state a quantified household rate reduction or a Project PULSE megawatt-capacity gain. Proposed funding, construction milestones and electricity delivered remain separate, and the 2027-2031 schedule should not be presented as capacity available today.

Official source: pse.com ↗