Upgrading Our Infrastructure

O&R has made investments totaling over $1 billion over the past 10 years on electric system maintenance and reliability projects.

We have developed plans, designed and constructed to build a stronger, more resilient energy delivery system that will be powered by clean, abundant, renewable sources. Among the investments supporting these initiatives are:

Tuxedo Park Reconductoring Phase I – Tuxedo Park, NY

Orange & Rockland began work on Phase I of this project in Tuxedo Park last February 2020. It’s a significant project designed to reinforce the electric system, and to fortify it to improve resiliency and minimize storm-related service interruptions.

This project focused on upgrading nearly three miles of existing overhead conductor with higher capacity, sturdier, tree-resistant cable. Approximately 100 utility poles were replaced with new, sturdier, taller poles.

In addition, ten automated switches were installed to allow O&R’s energy control center operators to remotely respond to power outages. Those devices isolate system problems when they develop and minimize the number of customers affected by individual outages. Also, additional tree-trimming and danger tree removals were performed to prevent potential tree problems and power outages.

Tuxedo Park Reconductoring Phase II – Tuxedo Park, NY

Orange & Rockland began work on Phase II of the multi-year project in Tuxedo Park in winter 2021, designed to reinforce the village’s electric system to improve electric service resiliency and minimize storm-related service interruptions. Phase II focuses on the village’s East Lake Road corridor from Lake Stable Road to Crow’s Nest Road and will upgrade nearly two miles of existing overhead wire with higher capacity, tree-resistant cable and replacing approximately 80 utility poles with new, sturdier poles.

In addition, eight new switches will be installed to allow for the isolation of system problems when they develop and minimize the number of customers affected by individual outages. Also, additional tree-trimming and danger tree removals will be performed to prevent potential tree interference problems and power outages.

Estimated time frame for major milestones of the project:

Tree trimming and danger tree removals – Began January through April 2021
Contractor mobilization – April 2021
Setting new poles and installing new cable – Beginning May 2021
Transferring utilities – Beginning July 2021
Removal of old poles – Beginning October 2021
Contractor demobilization – December 2021

Port Jervis Substation – Port Jervis, NY

Work began in December 2019 on this $38.2 million project designed to improve electric service reliability in Port Jervis and surrounding area for approximately 7,700 customers, by replacing the existing electric substation in the city with a new, larger, modern substation.

This new facility will help O&R better serve its customers’ needs in the area. It will offer more switching options to help restore service interruptions more quickly, and it will allow O&R to better integrate renewable energy and advanced technologies onto the power grid.

Estimated time frame for major milestones of the project:

Began removal of the substation -- December 2019
Site preparation, grading and foundation work -- May 2020 through September 2020
Transformers and Control Building installation -- December 2020
Construction of electric portions of the new substation -- January 2021 through December 2021
Energize new substation -- December 31, 2021
Site restoration and final landscaping -- March of 2022

Ramapo Banks Replacement – Ramapo, NY

This project involved the replacement of the existing (6) single phase 345kV/138kV banks at Ramapo Substation in two sub-projects – Ramapo Bank 2300 and Ramapo Bank 1300 – both critical for the reliable and economic operation of O&R’s electric transmission system.

Each sub-project replaced three transformers with one three-phase bank. Work included the removal of the old transformers in stages, civil design and construction of new foundations and take off structures to facilitate the installation of the banks, relocation of the existing 345kV conductors and 138kV bus and new oil containment systems. Installation of the new banks were completed in 2019 and 2020.

Brookside Underground Project – Allendale and Wyckoff, NJ

This $3.5-million electric system storm hardening project was designed to improve electric service reliability, strengthen electric infrastructure, and protect the electric system from damage for Rockland Electric Company customers in Allendale and Wyckoff and surrounding communities.

To reduce exposure to equipment failure, severe storms or tree contact, an express overhead electric circuit between Allendale and Wyckoff was replaced with an underground mainline cable system for 2.5 miles, which now minimizes the risk associated with the loss of both circuits during storms and other emergency events. The project consisted of work along Wyckoff Avenue, Crescent Avenue and Brookside Avenue and was completed in March 2021.

Godwin Avenue Project – Wyckoff, NJ

This is a $526,000 electric system storm hardening project designed to improve electric service reliability and strengthen electric system infrastructure for customers in Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, Allendale, and surrounding areas.

The Godwin Avenue project calls for replacement of poles and the installation of 1,300 feet of new overhead, heavy-duty cable conductor along Godwin Avenue to Greenwood Avenue in Wyckoff. When complete, the project will bring another electric distribution circuit into the downtown area. As part of the project, three additional remote-operated switching devices will be installed allowing distribution system operators to identify and restore service in damaged areas more quickly.