LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada utility regulators have approved a sweeping 20-year development plan for Nevada's main electric utility that includes a $510 million transmission line, $301 million in "smart" meters and more than 400 megawatts of renewable-power purchases.
State Public Utilities Commission approval Wednesday for the NV Energy integrated resource plan gave the go-ahead for building a 235-mile transmission line from Ely to the Las Vegas area.
It will for the first time connect northern and southern parts of the state.
NV Energy chief Michael Yackira said construction of the so-called One Nevada Line could begin this year and be completed by early 2013.
The "smart grid" plan will replace almost 1.5 million meters statewide with digital counters that can send and receive data from the utility.