Energize Eastside

Energize Eastside is energized - thank you!

Energize Eastside is now energized. We completed construction on Energize Eastside and energized the new 230 kV transmission lines in north Bellevue and Redmond in December 2024. In fall 2023, we energized the new Richards Creek substation and the new 230 kV transmission lines from Renton to south Bellevue.

Now, Energize Eastside is providing additional system capacity to Eastside customers to keep the lights on for years to come. Thank you for your patience during construction and restoration!

Property owners click here for tips to care for your new plants

A parking lot with cars in front of a building to the right. There are two grey transmission poles behind the cars with wires running along them.

Transmission poles with artwork at Renton Technical College in Renton.

A pedestrian trail runs through a transmission line corridor where two green transmission poles stand next to each other. Coniferous trees line the corridor with a fence running along the right side and a rock wall running along the left.

We installed new transmission lines in the existing corridor along the pipeline trail in Newcastle.

Native plants and shrubs are in the foreground. A sign for the Somerset Recreation Club is on the left, a bus stop sign is visible to the right of the sign, in the middle of the image. Transmission lines run above the landscaped area in the background, which also includes two grey transmission poles.

Landscaped area along transmission line at Somerset Recreation Club in south Bellevue.

Young plantings adorn an area next to an apartment complex. Transmission lines run above the landscaped area, and many brown transmission poles can be seen in the background within the transmission line corridor.

Plantings along the corridor at the Sixty01 community in Redmond.

What you can expect in early 2025

Property restoration. Crews will continue removing equipment from the field and will restore property along the corridor. In spring 2025, we anticipate that all the property restoration and plantings will be done, and Energize Eastside will be completed. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project!
Possible crackling sound from energized lines. At times, it may be possible to hear crackling sounds from the new transmission lines. This is a normal condition, especially when the new lines are energized. The crackling sounds do not pose a safety issue.

Property owners along the corridor - caring for plants

We will monitor the trees and shrubs that we recently planted along the corridor for one year after construction is completed. Property owners will be responsible for caring for their new plants. Check out the plant care guide for tips to take care of your new plants.

If you decide to plant more trees and shrubs within the transmission corridor on your property, it is your responsibility to ensure that the selected plant species have a maximum mature height of 15 feet or less if located in the easement area. Any new plants should be located at least six feet away from power poles. We encourage you to contact the PSE Vegetation Management department at VegetationManagement@pse.com to request an arborist to review your plant selection for compatibility with the transmission corridor.

Photo of various shrubs, trees and flowers planted along the corridor. — Keep your plants healthy by following our plant care tips.

Project overview

Energize Eastside includes the new Richards Creek substation in Bellevue and upgrades approximately 16 miles of transmission poles and lines from 115 kV to 230 kV within an existing corridor from Renton to Redmond. The project is needed to comply with mandatory federal transmission planning requirements and support growth in King County. As the backbone of the eastside’s transmission system, Energize Eastside upgrades the electric infrastructure built in the 1960s.

As part of this project, we worked with property owners along the corridor to discuss landscaping and replace trees. Because of these plantings, the corridor now has more trees than before the project started. Thank you for your collaboration.

A map showing the extent of the project route, beginning in Renton to the south and ending in Redmond after passing through Newcastle, south Bellevue, and north Bellevue. There are three existing substations indicated on the map, including: Talbot Hill in Renton, Lakeside in south Bellevue, and Sammamish in Redmond. One new substation is indicated on the map – the Richards Creek substation, which is located just south of the existing Lakeside substation. — Project map (click the expand button to see the full project route)