NYSEG Upgrading Electric Distribution System in Towns of Pound Ridge and Lewisboro

Resiliency investments to bring enhanced reliability to more than 1,600 customers

BINGHAMTON, NY — May 21, 2021 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) announced today that it recently began construction on a circuit upgrade project that will benefit more than 1,600 customers in the towns of Pound Ridge and Lewisboro. Construction has begun to upgrade the Pound Ridge 455 circuit, which delivers power to customers’ homes and businesses. The Pound Ridge 455 Circuit is located in the southeastern area of the towns, near the Connecticut border. Work is currently being performed along Conant Valley Road, Glen Drive, Lockwood Road, and East Street. 

“The investments in this infrastructure being made by NYSEG will enhance the reliability of service to the communities and customers we serve,“ said Andy Gumkowski, Manager of Resiliency Field Projects at NYSEG. “These upgrades will make the system more resilient to severe weather and bring greater reliability to the customers served by this circuit.”

This project will upgrade approximately 9.6 miles of power lines and bring enhanced reliability to approximately 1,604 customers. The projects are part of the company’s Resiliency Program which proactively hardens the company’s system to continue providing safe and reliable service to all customers. Portions of this project will upgrade the distribution system from a “single-phase” line to “three-phase” lines. This upgrade allows for greater capacity of electricity to meet customer demands. As a result of this project, the Pound Ridge 455 circuit will have created self-tying loops that allow customers to receive their electricity through multiple paths. Creating these ties throughout the circuit provide for enhanced reliability of service.

Along the circuit the company is installing 11 new SCADA switches. SCADA switches provide NYSEG with the ability to temporarily switch which circuit is powering a customer’s home or business. Additionally, the project will install five Trip Savers and one Recloser. This equipment is used to protect the system and could potentially reduce the duration or number of customer impacted when an outage occurs.
 
Prior to starting construction, NYSEG also completed enhanced tree trimming along the power lines to address any overgrowth of trees, branches and foliage which can break during storms and damage power infrastructure. Broken trees and branches are the leading cause of power interruptions for NYSEG customers and this effort included trimming from ground to sky and removing overhanging limbs to create a higher overhead clearance. Conducting the enhanced tree trimming ensures the circuit is better prepared for harsh storm conditions and works hand in hand with the resiliency upgrades. 

NYSEG advises customers that temporary and minor traffic delay may occur during the project period. The company also asks that motorist use extra caution when near crews and work zones.

The construction on this project began on May 19th and is expected to be completed in October 2021.
 
NYSEG is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc.