ISO New England Picks Eversource’s TIDE Project for Regional Reliability and Affordability
News related to:ISO New England · 2 min read
MANCHESTER, N.H., Sept. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- ISO New England has selected Eversource’s joint Transmission Initiative Down East (TIDE) project as the preferred long-term solution to enhance reliability and affordability in the region. The project, which will upgrade and replace existing infrastructure, is expected to provide significant benefits to customers and the broader New England grid.
According to ISO New England, the TIDE project will enable the integration of up to 1,200 megawatts of future onshore wind generation in northern New England, thereby easing congestion on the regional transmission system. This initiative is projected to deliver substantial regional benefits, including reduced congestion costs and enhanced reliability, while also addressing longstanding energy affordability challenges.
The proposed TIDE project will involve the construction of a new 18-mile, 345 kilovolt (kV) line, the rebuild of an existing 345 kV line from a two-pole, H-frame design to a single-pole, and the installation of equipment to help regulate voltage and power quality. These upgrades are designed to maximize the use of established transmission rights-of-way, thereby minimizing environmental and community impacts while efficiently delivering capacity and strengthening the grid.
ISO New England’s analysis projects that the TIDE project will provide a cost-benefit ratio of more than 2-to-1, with significant savings for customers. Specifically, the project is expected to generate $1.42 billion in production cost and congestion savings, avoid $1.30 billion in capital investment, and save $694 million in transmission investment.
The TIDE project is still in the early stages and requires extensive engineering, environmental, permitting, and regulatory reviews. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2029, pending all state and regulatory approvals. Eversource is committed to engaging with the communities, ISO New England, and other stakeholders to ensure the project delivers the intended benefits to the region.
The project is part of Eversource’s broader commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship. As a national leader in this area, Eversource is recognized as the #1 utility on USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2025 and the #1 contributor to United Way in New Hampshire.