LIPA Upgrades Coming to Stony Brook, Old Field

LIPA announced Thursday that it has undertaken a project to upgrade its Stony Brook substation, which feeds power to 1,937 customers in Stony Brook and Old Field.

The utility company said the project will focus on replacing the primary conductors with new high capacity lines from Old Field Road to Mount Grey Road and Blueberry Ridge Road. It is scheduled to be completed this month.

According to LIPA, the circuit that feeds that area in Old Field originates in Stony Brook.

Old Field mayor Michael Levine said in an email to Patch that while LIPA has not communicated with the village regarding the upgrades, he is in favor of them if they will improve service in the village. In August of 2011, when Hurricane Irene hit Long Island, more than half of Old Field's 408 households remained without power for an extended period of time.

"Hurricanes are always going to cause problems and headaches no matter how prepared any village is," Levine said, "but whatever measures that LIPA has planned for the village that will help it to deal with hurricanes and other weather-related events more effectively and efficiently will always be welcomed."

LIPA said residents may see crews working on the side of the road, and cautioned residents to drive slowly and give LIPA crews the right of way to ensure safety. LIPA also said its customers will be notified in advance if any scheduled outages are required.

"As the number one part of our mission to provide highly reliable electric service to our customers, this project will reinforce the existing electrical facilities in the area to meet the increasing demand to serve customer needs,”  LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael D. Hervey said in a statement.