PSEG Preparing for Summer Surges in Union County

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) announced it expects to provide a summer peak of more than 10,000 megawatts this coming summer season, an increase of nearly 1,000 megawatts over 2014.

PSE&G’s forecasted summer peak for 2015 is 10,306 megawatts, compared to last year’s peak of 9,474 set on July 2, according to a release from the power company. PSE&G’s all-time summer peak was set on Aug. 2, 2006, with 11,108 megawatts.

The company is preparing for the estimated increase in use with several new installations and equipment upgrades. Included in the upgrades is a $77 million upgrade for the Aldene-Springfield Road-West Orange 230kV Conversion Network, PSE&G said. This project maintains electric service reliability for customers in Union and Essex counties.

According to PSE&G, the $77 million upgrade will consist of rewiring from Cranford to West Orange to replace underground circuits with high-rated conductors, and upgrades at two stations.

Additionally, the power company invested $76 million to replace 14 aging transformers to maintain electric service reliability for customers in Union County and Bergen, Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer, Gloucester and Burlington counties.

“PSE&G expects to have no problem delivering the additional power required during the summer months, but utility crews will be ready to respond to service interruptions should they occur,” the power company said in the release.

PSE&G’s ”year-round preparedness program” for the summer season includes: conducting employee training; developing emergency summer operating plans; performing summer peak reliability analysis; inspecting transmission lines using helicopters and infrared cameras; and reinforcing lines and other equipment.