O&R Utilities, Central Hudson Gas & Electric develop weather forecasting tool

Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R) and Central Hudson Gas & Electric (CHGE) are developing a new weather forecasting tool that will provide real-time predictions on storm outages, among other functions.

The project is part of a collaboration with the University of Albany’s Center of Excellence in Weather & Climate Analytics (COE) and Electrical Distribution Design (EDD).

That data generated by the tool will better equip utility companies to make decisions on how to prepare for weather-induced power outages and variations in renewable energy production. The partners will use a combination of New York State Mesonet data and Integrated System Models (ISMs) to develop the tool. The NYS Mesonet includes 126 standard weather observation stations across New York State that provide an array of real-time weather measurements. O&R and CHG&E also are providing their own data from previously existing ISMs.

The tool’s dashboard will initially be customized for them but can expand to assist other utilities statewide, Nick Bassill, director of research and development at UAlbany’s COE, said. UAlbany’s COE is a network of over 120 weather and climate faculty, researchers, and research staff.

“Governor Cuomo’s steadfast commitment to forward thinking technologies has advanced this project, enabling the state’s utilities to harness the New York State Mesonet data to track real-time activities for both storms and renewable energy,” Doreen Harris, acting president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said. “Severe weather events have become our norm as a result of climate change, and having live data at our fingertips will be invaluable in helping us improve our statewide preparedness and resiliency in even the most challenging situations.”

The tool will be developed with $1.7 million in funding, including a $1.2 million investment from NYSERDA. It will be created in two phases over the next 24 months.

Orange and Rockland Utilities – a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison — provides electric service to approximately 300,000 customers in southeastern New York State and northern New Jersey and natural gas service to approximately 130,000 customers in New York.