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Non-Wires Alternatives

Moving Toward the Interactive Grid of the Future

Non-Wires Alternatives

We are committed to considering Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA) solutions to electric capital investments where they are appropriate and cost-effective, and supporting principles from the New York Public Service Commission’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) regulatory framework. NWA solutions utilize third-party Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to postpone certain traditional construction projects needed primarily to correct system overloading conditions and in some cases, system reliability issues.

Strategy

Our strategy for NWA is to build a portfolio of NWA DER projects which are cost effective for customers, provide reliable alternatives to traditional capital investment projects, and provide full cost recovery and earnings opportunities for our companies, while we comply with regulatory directives and learn from and work cooperatively with other utilities and stakeholders.

Project Selection and Process

NWA solutions provide the opportunity to improve reliability, explore alternative infrastructure solutions and contribute to New York’s energy vision. To determine upcoming distribution and transmission projects suitable for these solutions, several factors are considered. Traditional electric system construction projects that meet a need for decreased demand and/or increased reliability, with a minimum of 36 months until time of need and construction costs greater than $1,000,000 are reviewed as potential NWA projects. Projects are evaluated and ordered according to time of need. Requests for proposals (RFP) are then scheduled and reviewed to determine cost-effectiveness and technical viability.

Project Opportunities

Capital projects included in NYSEG’s 2018 Capital Investment Plan (CIP) Filing that passed the NWA Screening Criteria are included below:

Transmission /Distribution	Project Name	Time of Need	Estimated RFP Release Timing
Distribution	Java 2nd Transformer and 12 kV Conversion - NWA RFP in Progress	2019	Released
Transmission	New Gardenville Substation - Add 3rd 230/115 kV Transformer - NWA RFP in Progress	2021	Released
Distribution	Stillwater Substation - Upgrade Transformer to 14 MVA - NWA RFP in Progress	2022	Released
Transmission	Northside 115/34.5 kV Transformer B1 and B2 Replacement	2022	2018
Transmission	Liberty - Grossinger 34.5 kV Line 341 Upgrade	2023	TBD
Distribution	Hilldale - 115 kV Source, Transformer Bank Upgrade and Second 12 kV Distribution Circuit	2024	TBD
Distribution	Sloan - Add a Second Transformer Bank and Fourth Circuit Position	2024	TBD
Transmission	Pawling - Ten Mile River New 115 kV Line (Line 825 Rebuild)	2024	TBD
Distribution	Orchard Park - Add a 2nd Tranformer Bank	2025	TBD
Transmission	Northside - Morningside Heights 34.5 kV Line 455 Upgrade	2025	TBD
Transmission	Brainard Tap - W. Lebanon 34.5 kV Line 620 Upgrade	2025	TBD
Transmission	Cornstock - Franchise Line 34.5 kV Line 625 and Line 626 Upgrade	2025	TBD
Transmission	Coopers Corners - Maplewood - Kiamesha 34.5 kV Line 347 Upgrade	2026	TBD
Transmission	Ferndale - Liberty 34.5 kV Line 348 Upgrade	2026	TBD
Distribution	Bulkhead - Replace Transformer Bank #2	2027	TBD
Distribution	Marcellus Transformer Bank Replacement and 12 kV conversion	2027	TBD
Distribution	Crafts - Add 2nd Transformer and 4th 13.2 kV Circuit Position	2028	TBD
Distribution	Old Fall Substation - Install 2nd LTC Transformer	2029	TBD
Distribution	Sackett Lake Sub - Replace Transformer with 7.5 MVA Unit & Convert Distribution to 12.5 kV	2032	TBD

Current Projects

Java Substation

Java Substation, located in our Lancaster Division, is a 34.5-4.8 kV substation with two distribution feeder circuits that serve approximately 1,665 customers. The existing 5 MVA bank has exceeded the nameplate rating and one circuit has significant load growth. The NWA project to postpone the transformer replacement was initiated with an RFP in 2016.

Stillwater Substation

Stillwater Substation, located in our Mechanicville Division, is a 2.8 MVA substation that serves approximately 1,270 customers. The transformer at the substation is near or over its nameplate rating. The traditional wires project is to upgrade the Stillwater Substation with a new 34.5-4.8 X 12.5 kV, 10/12.5 (14) MVA, LTC transformer and convert approximately two miles of distribution circuit to 12.5 kV from the substation to Colonial Drive. An RFP requesting NWA solutions for this project was issued in July 2017.

New Gardenville Substation

The New Gardenville Substation, located in our Lancaster Division, contains two 230/115 kV transformers that have experienced low bus voltages and thermal overload. The traditional wires project is to install a third 230/115 kV transformer at the substation and operate it in parallel with the two existing transformers. An RFP requesting NWA solutions for this project was issued in September 2017.

Upcoming Projects

Northside Substation

Northside Substation, located in our Binghamton Division, is a load relief project. The traditional wires solution is to upgrade the 115/34.5 kV LTC Transformer by replacing the #2 LTC bank with a larger LTC having a summer normal rating above 70 MVA and replace the #1 Non LTC bank with a larger one having a summer LTE rating of at least 60 MVA. We plan to release an RFP requesting NWA solutions for this project in 2018.