NYSEG Circuit Upgrades will Enhance Reliability to Thousands of Customers in Stephentown Area
Upgrades to the Stephentown 621 distribution line will strengthen the system and enhance reliability for customers
BINGHAMTON, NY — April 13, 2022 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) recently began construction on a project to upgrade the electric distribution system on the company’s Stephentown 621 circuit. The project will bring enhanced reliability to 1,950 residential and business customers in Berlin, Petersburgh and Stephentown directly served by the circuit. This project is part of the company’s Resiliency Program which proactively hardens electric infrastructure to continue providing safe and reliable service to customers.
“This project is part of NYSEG’s commitment to improved reliability for our customers,” said Andy Gumkowski, Manager of Resiliency Field Projects at NYSEG. “Once completed, the Stephentown 621 upgrades will strengthen the system against harsher, more unpredictable weather and better support our customers in these three communities.”
The primary goals of the project are to make the grid more reliable and shorten the duration of outages should they occur. This will be achieved by the installation of nearly nine miles of distribution line, replacement of more than 200 utility poles — some more than 75 years old — and installation of nine new SCADA switches and reclosers and 12 trip savers.
The new poles are wider in diameter, making them stronger and more resilient to wind gusts. SCADA switches and reclosers provide NYSEG with the ability to temporarily switch which circuit is powering a customer’s home or business, resulting in quicker restoration times for customers when outages occur. Trip savers are devices with advanced technology that replaces the standard fuses found on our system. When an outage occurs due to temporary faults caused by storms, wildlife or tree damage, trip savers can significantly reduce the duration of the outage.
The project began in February 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2022. It is one of the several resiliency investments NYSEG is making to reduce the number and duration of outages during extreme weather and to enable an efficient and effective response when outages do occur.
NYSEG advises customers that temporary and minor traffic delays may occur during the project period. The company also asks that motorists use extra caution when near crews and work zones. Crews will be working in the areas of State Route 22 in all three communities, Route 2 in Petersburgh, and along Airport Road and Southeast Hollow Road in Berlin.
“Residents will see the NYSEG crews working throughout the area during the next few months,” said Gumkowski. “These are high-traffic areas, so we thank our customers in advance for their attentiveness as they pass through work zones. This will allow crews to complete the upgrades safely and efficiently.”
NYSEG is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc.
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About NYSEG: New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1852, NYSEG operates approximately 35,000 miles of electric distribution lines and 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines across more than 40% of upstate New York. It also operates more than 8,150 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 20 miles of gas transmission pipelines. It serves approximately 894,000 electricity customers and 266,000 natural gas customers. For more information, visit nyseg.com.
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $39 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 7,000 people and has been recognized by Forbes and Just Capital as one of the 2021 JUST 100 companies - a list of America's best corporate citizens - and was ranked number one within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment and the communities it serves. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2021 for the third consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com.
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Media Contact:
- Kelly Packard
kelly.packard@avangrid.com
518.281.3782