4. Public Convenience and Necessity

SCE states that the project is needed in order to reduce the possibility of overloads on existing 220 kV transmission lines in the Big Creek Corridor. SCE notes that, on June 24, 2004, the California Independent System Operator Board of Governors approved the looping of the Big Creek 3-Springville 220 kV transmission line into the Rector Substation as the preferred long-term transmission alternative to address identified reliability concerns. No party disputes the need for the project. We find it necessary to loop the Big Creek 3-Springville 220 kV transmission into the Rector Substation to address reliability concerns.