PSEG Announces Energy Grid Improvements For Port Washington

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — As our warming climate fuels more destructive storms, PSEG Long Island has announced plans to upgrade its aging energy grid in Port Washington.

In a statement released Friday, the electric company said it will harden its transmission systems against storms and other severe weather. The work — which involves creating new utility safeguards or retrofitting existing infrastructure — is part of many system improvements included in PSEG's "Power On" program.

"Electric reliability is more important than ever, so PSEG Long Island is strongly focused on strengthening the electric lines that directly power homes and businesses," said Peggy Keane, interim president and COO of PSEG Long Island. "This 'Power On' infrastructure improvement project in Port Washington is part of our ongoing, multi-year effort to continue to improve electric reliability for our customers."

The storm-hardening improvements include:

Stronger poles...

• Crews will replace some existing utility poles with stronger, more durable poles that can withstand up to 135 mph winds
• The new poles will be roughly the same height as the existing poles, have a stronger base, and will be installed no more than five feet from the current pole locations

Narrow profiles...

• Crews will be installing shorter cross arms atop some poles
• This is designed to help wires deflect falling limbs instead of catching them

Stronger wire...

• PSEG will replace its current wire with more resilient and durable wire

Upgrades and replacements...

• PSEG will upgrade or replace deteriorating equiment as needed

The storm-hardening work will begin in mid-April and last about three months, according to PSEG. Contractors will work along mainline distribution lines in Port Washington.

To help with traffic, PSEG will provide cones, flaggers, and signage at the worksites, as needed. The company also said it will alert local officials about any potential traffic concerns in advance.

Crews will be working on the following streets in Port Washington:

• Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101) between Sandy Hollow Road and Main Street
• Delaware Avenue between N. Maryland Avenue and Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101)
• N. Maryland Avenue between Delaware Avenue and Ohio Avenue
• Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101) between Bernard Street and Concord Road
• Vanderventer Avenue between S. Bayles Avenue and Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101)
• Willowdale Avenue between S. Bayles Avenue and Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101)
• Beechwood Avenue between S. Bayles Avenue and Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101)

PSEG provides power and electrical support to about 1.1 million customers in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the Rockaways. Its five-year "Power On" program began in the spring of 2020.

Since its launch, PSEG says more than 59 miles of the most vulnerable distribution mainline circuits have been storm-hardened with stronger poles, thicker wires, and other modern equipment.

These investments are designed to strengthen PSEG's energy grid, so that fewer customers experience outages. And when they do happen, the outages will be shorter, especially during extreme weather, according to PSEG.

"From the first quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022, the sections of circuits that are storm hardened saw a 44 percent reduction in damage leading to outages compared to the rest of the distribution system," the company said in a statement.

For more project details, visit https://www.psegliny.com/inthecommunity/currentinitiatives/stormhardeningprojects.