Edison drops Arizona line

Edison International said it wouldn’t pursue regulatory approvals for the Arizona portion of a power line that has drawn opposition from state regulators.

Edison said its Southern California Edison subsidiary would go forward with the California portion of the line, part of a $774-million project that was proposed in part to help bring solar power into the state. The transmission line will instead get power from California renewable and fossil-fuel power projects.

Arizona regulators rejected the project in 2007, calling it a “230-mile extension cord.” Edison made initial filings with federal regulators for a potential override of Arizona’s objections. The company said it was also dropping its efforts before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Rosemead-based company cited reduced electricity demand in California as well as future renewable power supplies in the state as among the “primary changes” since the line was proposed in 2005.