State regulators should require TEP to obtain an independent study on the relationship between the Santa Rita Connection power line and Copper World

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas thanks Sahuarita Town Council member Kim Lisk who requested Tucson Electric Power Company appear before the council for the third time this year to provide information about the proposed $18 million Santa Rita Connection power line project.

In two previous appearances before the council, TEP did not disclose that the Santa Rita Connection 138 kV power line would terminate at a substation that could relay electricity through the separate Rosemont 138 kV power line approved by regulators in 2012 to the proposed Copper World mine.

TEP confirmed to the council Monday night that Copper World’s long-planned Toro switchyard would be collocated at the Santa Rita Substation.

TEP did not disclose that the Santa Rita Connection would be providing power to Copper World in its application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility pending before the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Instead, TEP said the power line was needed to provide additional capacity and service to about 14,000 residential customers and for future growth and capacity in Sahuarita and surrounding communities.

“The ACC should reject TEP’s pending application and require TEP to obtain an independent study on the relationship between the Santa Rita Connection and Copper World to ensure that residential ratepayers will not be subsidizing the cost of providing power to the proposed mine,” SSSR Executive Director John Dougherty said.

Sahuarita Mayor Tom Murphy said during the council meeting the Santa Rita Connection was not related to Copper World and is necessary even if the proposed mine “was in West Virginia” rather than directly connected to the new power line.

The council took no action on whether to send a recommendation to the ACC on the town’s position on the Santa Rita Connection.

SSSR encourages the public to continue sending requests to the Corporation Commission to reject TEP’s pending application and require TEP to obtain an independent study on the relationship between the Santa Rita Connection and Copper World.