Utilities’ Plan For Canadian Hydropower Gets OK

Federal regulators have approved a plan that would let utility companies NStar and Northeast Utilities transmit electricity from a Quebec hydroelectric power plant.

NStar, which serves parts of Eastern and Central Massachusetts, and Northeast Utilities, which serves Western Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut and New Hampshire, got the go-ahead from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to work with Hydro-Quebec of Canada to build a high voltage transmission line to New Hampshire.

The line would transmit at least 1,200 megawatts of power. The companies said the electricity will be capable of powering about a million homes.