The schedule for National Grid's Interstate Reliability Project in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is as follows:

• Planning and engineering - ongoing
• Permitting and Licensing - 2011 to 2013
• Construction - 2014 to 2015
• Facilities in service - 2015

Public outreach is ongoing and we expect to file state siting applications in 2011 and 2012. 

Project Costs 

Regulatory agencies ensure that electric utilities act in the public interest to keep rates as low as possible for all customers. All transmission projects are carefully scrutinized by regulatory agencies to make sure that utility companies make prudent investments to maintain reliability with as little environmental impact as possible and at the lowest reasonable cost.

New England States have agreed to share the costs of projects that provide regional benefit and National Grid will seek regional cost-sharing for the Interstate Reliability Project. Cost recovery would begin at the 2015 in-service date and be recovered over 40 years. There may be instances where project costs over and above feasible least-cost solutions are paid for on a state or local level.

Transmission is currently six to seven percent of customer bills and minimal bill impact is expected.