April 30, 2025

Answers to your questions about PSE's transmission line projects on Bainbridge Island

Over the next several years, PSE will be making a variety of infrastructure improvements to serve the Bainbridge Island community – both to the transmission system (our “hybrid solution” projects) and the distribution system. You can view a list of our current projects on the PSE Bainbridge website here. 

We know it can be difficult to keep track of all of these projects and receive questions from the community, particularly about our two transmission line projects. To provide additional information and clarity about these two projects, we answer some of your most commonly asked questions below. 

What are PSE’s two transmission line projects on Bainbridge Island? 

  • PSE currently has two separate transmission line projects on Bainbridge Island: the Winslow Tap 115 kV transmission line rebuild, shown in gray with a yellow outline on the map above, and the new Murden Cove – Winslow 115 kV “missing link” transmission line, shown in purple with a yellow outline.  

What does the Winslow Tap 115 kV transmission line rebuild entail? 

  • PSE plans to rebuild portions of the existing 4.5-mile Winslow Tap 115 kV transmission line that has been in service since the 1960s. The Winslow Tap is currently the only transmission line delivering power to the Winslow Substation, which serves around 4,500 homes and businesses on the south end of the Island, and is prone to tree-related power outages. By replacing select poles and equipment, installing new wire and improving vegetation management and access along the existing corridor, we will improve safety and reliability, reducing the number and duration of outages customers experience. 

What does the new Murden Cove – Winslow 115 kV “missing link” transmission line entail? 

  • PSE plans to install a new 115 kV transmission line between the Murden Cove and Winslow substations to create a transmission loop. The installation of this transmission line is proposed along road right-of-way following a corridor with an existing distribution line and poles. Approximately every other distribution pole will be replaced with a taller pole that will support both the existing distribution line and the new transmission line. PSE will also manage vegetation along the corridor. 

  • Currently, the Murden Cove and Winslow substations are each served by single, radial transmission lines, referred to as taps. If the one transmission line serving the substation goes out, then the substation and all of the customers served by that substation lose power.  (bullet) With this new transmission line, the Murden Cove and Winslow substations will each connect to two transmission lines. If one line goes out, the other line can still feed the substation and provide power to customers. This project will improve reliability for two-thirds of the Island, including families, schools and businesses, by adding redundancy to the system and reducing the impact of any single outage. 

What’s the status of these projects?  

  • Winslow Tap 115 kV transmission line rebuild: PSE is currently coordinating with property owners to acquire easements for operation and maintenance of the Winslow Tap transmission line. We expect the easement acquisition process to continue into 2026. Once easements are acquired, PSE will submit permits for the project. We expect the City of Bainbridge Island’s review to take place in 2026 through early 2027 and construction to occur in 2027 and 2028. 

How will I know if my property will be impacted by either of these projects?

  • If PSE anticipates any impacts to your property, we will notify you via letters, door-to-door outreach, emails or phone calls in advance of submitting permits to the City and any work taking place. We will also reach out to impacted property owners directly to discuss property-specific details, vegetation replanting and construction plans.

How can I learn more and stay up to date? 

  • Learn more about our transmission and distribution projects on Bainbridge Island at pse.com/bainbridge.

To receive the latest news about these projects, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter here.

For more information about what to expect during easement acquisition, check out our factsheets. 

Map showing distribution projects