CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The state Public Service Commission has agreed to dismiss an application to build a 765-kilovolt power line across West Virginia.

American Electric Power and FirstEnergy Corp. sought the dismissal after a group that oversees the electric grid for a 13-state region said the project should be delayed. The Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, known as PATH, was to start at AEP’s John Amos power station in West Virginia.

It was to cross northern Virginia before ending at a substation in Maryland.

 The two utilities filed similar requests with regulatory agencies in Virginia and Maryland.

In Tuesday’s ruling, the PSC dismissed the application without prejudice, which allows the utilities to refile the application at a later date.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)