O&R Utilities invests $144M to improve reliability to meet summer energy demand
Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) has invested more than $144 million this year to improve the reliability of its electric system in preparation for peak electricity demands this summer.
O&R, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, provides electric service and natural gas to customers in southeastern New York State and northern New Jersey.
“We work every day of the year to prepare O&R’s electric system to meet the high demand for electricity hot summer weather brings. As part of that mission, O&R is helping the communities we serve meet their clean energy goals by leading the transition to a low carbon future,” O&R President and CEO Robert Sanchez said.
Over the last 10 years, O&R has invested nearly $1 billion on electric system maintenance and reliability projects. O&R has done extensive storm-hardening among the recent projects, including replacing approximately 1,000 utility poles with new, sturdier poles; installing heavier-duty overhead cable in various locations; and installing underground cable in several locations. Also, O&R enhanced reliability by automating its electric system through smart grid technological improvements and replaced its mechanical electric and natural gas meters with digital meters in every home and business in the New York service territory.
There have been several larger-scale projects as well. For example, it built a new, $38.2-million electric substation in Port Jervis to improve electric service reliability in the city and surrounding area. It also developed the Pomona Battery Storage Project to accommodate energy use during summer peak demand periods. In addition, O&R is offering incentives to energize hundreds of new public and customer-owned electric vehicle charging stations throughout its New York service area.
The typical O&R residential customer using an average of 600 kWh of electricity per month last summer saw an average monthly bill of $135.90. The average bill is expected to increase to $153.23 this summer due to increased supply costs. O&R provides its customers their electricity at the same rate the company gets on the wholesale market, so it does not profit from supply costs.
