The existing single high-voltage line between Pradella and La Punt constitutes a bottleneck in the Swiss and European transmission system. This is due to ever-increasing power consumption, the future increase in electricity generation from newly planned power plants and renewable energy facilities in the Canton of Graubünden.

The Swiss Federal Council also designated this connection as part of the strategic national high voltage grid in March 2009, thus assigning it the status of very urgent.

Reconstruction and renovation projects

The owners plan to expand the just under 50 km long section between Pradella and La Punt with a second 380 kV line. The 126 pylons were designed to accommodate a second line during their construction, which means that the current route will remain.

However, to enable the Ordinance on Protection from Non-Ionising Radiation to be complied with, the height of 18 of the masts will need to be raised by five to eight meters.

Additional reconstruction measures:

• New mastheads for 13 pylons
• Strengthening of the foundations of 55 pylons
• Replacement of the ground wire along the entire length of the line
• Renovation of the existing 380 kV line

The connection to the power plant in Ova Spin will also need to be redesigned.