CTC Global proudly commends the release of Unlocking Power: A Playbook on Grid Enhancing Technologies for State and Regional Regulators and Policymakers—a pivotal resource developed under the leadership of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and its Macro Grid Initiative. This comprehensive guide brings long-overdue attention to the critical role of advanced reconductoring in modernizing America’s electric grid, and we are particularly pleased to see strong, explicit recognition of solutions that include high-performance, carbon fiber composite core conductors such as CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor.
The Playbook makes an urgent case: our grid needs more capacity—and fast. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the nation requires at least 57% more transmission capacity by 2035 to meet growing electricity demand and support the transition to clean energy. However, building entirely new transmission lines is often slow, expensive, and encumbered by regulatory and community hurdles. In contrast, reconductoring existing lines using Advanced Conductors can double transmission capacity in a fraction of the time and at significantly lower cost.
CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor is specifically designed to meet this need. With a carbon fiber composite core that is lighter, stronger, and more dimensionally stable than steel, ACCC® Conductors allow utilities to increase current-carrying capacity without replacing or reinforcing existing structures. They sag less under high temperatures, improving safety and reliability, and they reduce electrical resistance, which decreases line losses and increases overall grid efficiency. In wildfire-prone regions, the reduced sag and lower thermal profile of ACCC® Conductors can also significantly mitigate ignition risks.
Unlocking Power emphasizes that reconductoring is not only practical, but also a foundational strategy for unlocking constrained grid capacity. It cites real-world examples where utilities have avoided tens of millions in capital expenditures and years of delay by leveraging reconductoring instead of rebuilding lines. For instance, Pennsylvania’s PPL Electric Utilities avoided a $50 million rebuild with a sub-$1 million Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) deployment—highlighting the cost-effectiveness and rapid deployability of grid-enhancing upgrades.
Importantly, the Playbook calls on policymakers and regulators to take action. It recommends requiring GETs where cost-effective, aligning utility incentives to favor operational efficiency, and ensuring that advanced reconductoring and related technologies are incorporated into transmission planning frameworks. These recommendations align perfectly with what CTC Global has advocated for years: a smarter, faster, and more responsible way to modernize the grid using proven, available tools.
CTC Global applauds the WATT Coalition, ACORE, the Brattle Group, and all contributing stakeholders for producing this forward-looking blueprint. By spotlighting the enormous potential of Advanced Conductors and reconductoring, Unlocking Power arms decision-makers with the information they need to make progress today—not just plan for tomorrow.
We stand ready to support regulators, utilities, and transmission planners with the proven tools and engineering expertise to accelerate grid upgrades and deliver the capacity, resilience, and efficiency our electric infrastructure urgently needs. The ACCC® Conductor has already been deployed on more than 1,200 projects in over 60 countries—and its benefits are measurable, scalable, and essential in meeting today’s energy challenges.
For those truly committed to grid modernization, the message is clear: Advanced reconductoring isn’t just an option – it’s an imperative.
For more information, please visit: https://acore.org/resources/unlocking-power-a-playbook-on-grid-enhancing-technologies-for-state-and-regional-regulators-and-policymakers/
