Electric reliability on Bainbridge Island needs to be improved – two-thirds of the island is served by two substations that don’t have backup transmission. The Winslow and Murden Cove substations are each served by single radial transmission lines, referred to as "taps". If the transmission line serving the substation goes out, then the substation and all customers served by that substation lose power.

As part of PSE's solution to improve reliability on the island, we’re planning to build the new "missing link" transmission line between the Winslow and Murden Cove substations to create a transmission loop. This means each substation will be connected to two transmission lines. If one line goes out, the other line can still feed the substation and provide power to customers.

This new transmission line is a critical component of PSE’s plan to improve electric service reliability, reducing the frequency and duration of power outages for customers on Bainbridge Island. More homes and businesses depend on PSE for reliable power than ever before and PSE’s investment in transmission infrastructure will make Bainbridge Island's electric grid more resilient and reduce the impact of any single outage by focusing on redundancy.

Bainbridge Island customers experience more frequent and longer outages than the average PSE customer, and nearly half of those outage minutes are due to issues with the transmission system. Some specific challenges to reliability include:

• Trees: Bainbridge transmission lines are heavily exposed to trees, and 64% of outages are caused by trees.
• Radial transmission lines: Nearly two-thirds of Bainbridge customers are at risk of a prolonged outage because their area is served by a substation – either Winslow or Murden Cove substation – fed by a single transmission line with no back-up.

It’s our goal to understand community values and interests around the new transmission line, so we’re engaging the community to gather input. You can get involved by:

• Observing a Community Sounding Board (CSB) meeting and providing public comment.
• Participating in a community workshop.
• Providing feedback via email, phone, or comment form.

Community Sounding Board

We convened the Community Sounding Board to help inform the routing process for the new “missing link” transmission line between the Winslow and Murden Cove substations. The 18-member CSB individually and collectively provides input on routing criteria, route segments and other project related topics identified by PSE during the transmission line routing process. Members were selected from a pool of applicants and represent a variety of geographic, organizational and individual interests on Bainbridge Island from inside and outside the project study area.

The next meeting, CSB Meeting #5, is expected to be held in spring 2021 – subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive important project updates about upcoming CSB meetings. All CSB meetings are open to the public to observe, and there will be a brief opportunity for public comment at each meeting. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSB meetings are held virtually while social distancing recommendations are still in place.

Route Segment Feedback from the Community Sounding Board

The CSB has provided valuable information that has informed the project so far, including: 

• CSB members suggested that the project study area be expanded east to include Ferncliff Avenue Northeast to to allow for additional potential segment opportunities.
• CSB members brought imporant attention to critical helipad operations at Fire Station 21 at the corner of NE New Brooklyn Road and Madison Avenue N. PSE is looking into what this could mean for a transmission line in the area.

For additional details on feedback the CSB has provided on the study area and proposed route segments, check out materials and summaries from previous CSB meetings and info sessions held in 2020.

PSE met with the CSB on Oct. 12, 2020 to gather feedback on PSE’s potential route segments for the new transmission line. PSE received specific suggestions from several CSB members for additional segments to consider:

• Consider following Westerly Lane NE as a shortcut to connect Segments 6 and 3 to avoid Category II wetlands near the Fletcher Bay-High School Road intersection. PSE recently learned from the City of Bainbridge Island that existing city code prohibits new primary utilities from being built through wetlands classified as Category I or Category II.
• If utilizing Segment 11 along State Route 305, consider cutting through Sakai Park to connect to segments along High School Road faster. CSB members noted that this segment could face other challenges.
• Consider reconfiguring a southern portion of the existing Winslow Tap transmission line corridor to allow additional route segments to be considered for the “missing link” transmission line. Winslow Tap is the existing transmission line that connects the Port Madison substation to the Winslow substation and is located along Eagle Harbor Drive NE and New Brooklyn Road NE before reaching Winslow Substation.

PSE committed to reviewing these route segments to determine their feasibility and practicality, and whether to carry them further into the public process. After consideration, PSE determined the suggested route segments did not bring sufficient benefit in reaching the project objective to consider them further. 

Community workshops

PSE will host two workshops where community members can provide feedback to inform the routing process. The first workshop held online on Jan. 21, 2021 introduced the route segments under consideration and invited initial community impressions and feedback on these segments. The second workshop will ask community members to provide feedback on route options.

We currently anticipate hosting the second workshop in summer 2021 – subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive important project updates about upcoming feedback opportunities.