NYSEG Energizes New Substation in Raquette Lake as Part of Grid Modernization
NYSEG concludes work on a 70-year-old substation in Raquette Lake,
This project was funded by a previous rate proposal and is part of NYSEG’s substation resiliency program, focused on modernizing the grid.
Raquette Lake, NY — August 19, 2025 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) today announced the successful energization of its new Raquette Lake substation and the decommissioning of the original facility, which served the community for more than 70 years.
“When we work on these projects, we always have the mindset of ‘design with the community in mind,’” said Jeffrey Bell, construction manager for NYSEG. “In addition to updating aging infrastructure, we were able to work with the area and build a modernized substation that will serve the needs of the community for years to come.”
The upgraded facility will serve approximately 1,900 customers, significantly improving reliability—especially during Raquette Lake’s historically harsh winters.
Originally planned within the footprint of the existing substation—located just six feet from the roadside and adjacent to a local school—the project team worked with the community to identify a more suitable location. The new substation complies with updated standards and includes remote switching capabilities to enhance resiliency during major power outages and severe weather events.
The decommissioned substation will be removed, eliminating a roadside obstruction and restoring the area to open lawn space, creating a safer environment for nearby schoolchildren.
This project is part of NYSEG’s broader commitment to modernizing New York’s aging electric grid and investing in infrastructure that supports safe, reliable, and resilient service.
“I am very excited to see the successful energization of NYSEG’s new Raquette Lake substation and the decommissioning of the original. After serving the Raquette Lake community for more than seven decades, it is time for the original facility to retire and be removed to create more usable space for the surrounding neighborhood and school district. Ensuring resources are returned to the community and electrical substations in rural areas of the state are consistently updated to improve reliability for residents is crucial. I fully support this project and am proud to see many aspects of it completed with the community’s needs and safety in mind,” said Assemblyman Robert Smullen
“The Town of Long Lake would like to thank the Moore Family and NYSEG for working together to provide a location that allows NYSEG to improve the reliability of services while dramatically improving the appearance and safety of the Raquette Lake Union Free School grounds. This is great for Raquette Lake,” said Clay J. Arsenault, Town Supervisor of the Town of Long Lake.
“As the representative of the Moore family, which made the area available for the new NYSEG substation, I can proudly state without reservation that the entire NYSEG team and all the contractors who took this project from conception to completion did a great job,” said George Moore, representative of the Moore family. “NYSEG was intensely focused on safety, environmental impact, reliability, and quality of workmanship. Hats off to NYSEG and its new facility!”
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