The Chamson-Ulrichen line section between Yverdon and Galmiz represents the second important connection to close the gap in Switzerland's strategic ultra-high voltage grid. 144 electricity pylons will be required to construct the 50-kilometer connection from Yverdon (VD) to Galmiz (FR). The future 380-kV line, with a capacity of 4,000 MW, will enable 70 pylons to be dismantled along a 22-kilometer section in canton Fribourg. The estimated total cost of this project is CHF 90 million.

Status of procedure

At the request of the Swiss government, the project was divided in 1989 into two sections: Yverdon-Villarepos and Villarepos-Galmiz. The Yverdon-Villarepos dossier was submitted to the FOE for approval in 2008. The Villarepos-Galmiz project, which is at a somewhat less advanced stage, was submitted for public consultation in 2007.

Both projects are for overhead lines. Since construction of the motorway is already completed, an underground variant is not being considered. Moreover, the possibility of leading the lines from Yverdon to Villarepos as well as from Villarepos to Galmiz in Lake Neuchatel was also examined. However, the study found that this was not a viable option.

Due to the different warming characteristics of soil and lake water, it would have been necessary to install underwater connections, and at present this is not technically feasible. Added to this is the problem of manufacturing and transporting the reels, since there is no ship on the lake large enough for such transport.