DOVER — The 25 members of the House Democratic caucus sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week objecting to a plan that would have Delawareans pay for much of the cost of a transmission line in New Jersey.

“The $272 million project to build a transmission line to Salem and Hope Creek nuclear plants will have little benefit for the state, but our residents will have to bear the expense of the project,” states the letter.

The letter’s primary author Rep. W. Charles “Trey” Paradee III, a Cheswold Democrat.

Rep. Trey Paradee

“The Delaware and Maryland Public Service Commissions filed a complaint with your agency, alleging the financial burden is ‘unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory and preferential,’ using a flawed assessment of the requirements of the cost allocation model. Despite the PSCs’ best efforts to reduce costs on utility customers, the FERC denied the request.

“It’s outrageous that the commission essentially charged Delmarva ratepayers more than 90 percent of the cost for a project for which they will only receive 10 percent of the benefits. As local legislators we have heard from our residents, many of whom cannot fathom why they will be asked to shoulder cost increases they cannot bear.”

According to the Delaware Public Service Commission, the project will fix a “reliability issue” at the power plants but will have little benefit for the Delmarva Peninsula.

Gov. Jack Markell and the state’s congressional delegation opposed the plan.