Contents I. Introduction
Power transmission line planning is a complex task that must satisfy a number of different, often conflicting, constraints [1], stemming from technical and economical con-sideration. In addition, the locations for construction of new power transmission lines must be selected such that they minimize the impact on the environment, avoid disturbing protected parks and wildlife reserves, and address the concerns of neighbouring communities. At the same time, the industry has to ensure that a given expansion project falls within budget restrictions. Unfortunately, current planning procedures often do not take into consideration other aspects that play a critical role in the operability of power transmission networks. One of the most significant factors often neglected or not fully incorporated into the construction planning of new lines is the climatological variation that occurs across the different geographical regions through which a new power line would potentially pass through. As a result, the potentially significant impact that weather phenomena has on the line operating characteristics is not taken into account.
