The line would run from Beauly near Inverness to Denny near Falkirk

Planning officials will tell councillors meeting on Wednesday that a hearing is inevitable.

Officers are suggesting the appointment of one advocate to represent the local authorities affected to keep fees down.

Scottish and Southern Energy claims the new Beauly to Denny power line is needed to meet green energy targets.

The largest of the 600 electricity pylons on the 137-mile route would be 65m high.

Wallace Monument

The line would cross the Cairngorms National Park and pass within sight of the Wallace Monument in Stirling.

Objections have already been lodged by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, Highland Council, Perth and Kinross Council and Stirling Council.

The Scottish Executive has told Highland Council that an inquiry should begin in early 2007 and it is estimated it would sit for approximately nine months.

The proposed pylons are up to 65m high

A report put together by council planning officials on how to limit the costs will be presented to the authority's planning and development committee on Wednesday.

They recommend appointing one advocate to represent all the local authorities affected.

However, the report points out that even the costs of a single lawyer would be between �270,000 and �450,000.

On top of that would be the expense of professional witnesses such as engineers to advise on burying sections of the power line through environmentally sensitive areas.

A special meeting of Highland Council's planning committee was held in Inverness in April to consider the application.

A presentation was made by SSE officials and objectors also had the opportunity to make their views known.

Later, John Rennilson, the council's planning director, said the committee recognised that a high voltage electricity transmission system was key for the development of renewable energy in the Highlands.

Maintenance problems

But he said councillors did not feel that the proposal presented to them was acceptable.

The committee said it also wanted to wait for a government report on the possible link associated with high voltage overhead power lines and cases of childhood leukaemia.

Mr Rennilson said alternatives to the power line - such as laying it underground - must be explored at the earliest opportunity.

SSE head of sustainable development, Dr Keith Maclean, said under-grounding would cost much more and mean environmental and maintenance problems.