PSE&G To Upgrade Transmission Lines

PSE&G announced a new plan to improve transmission lines across 35 miles of northern and central New Jersey, including Chatham Borough and Chatham Township.

The North Central Reliability Project will be a significant overhaul to the company's transmission system from its current 138,000 voltage to a more powerful and more reliable 230,000 volt system, the company said. The estimated $336 million project is expected to impact nearly one third of the state's population.

The upgraded overhead transmission lines are slated to help meet residents increasing needs for electricity, which has grown over the years with the adoption of more power hungry devices like TVs and computers. According to a fact sheet prepared by the company, certain parts of the transmission system have not seen upgrades since the 1920s.

PSE&G will apply to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for project approval in May, and work could begin in early 2012. Other towns encompassed in the project include Livingston, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, West Orange, Roseland and Florham Park.

Recently residents within 1,000 feet of the affected areas, including those in Chatham, should have received written notification of the planned project. 

Deann Muzikar, a Utility Communications Consultant for PSE&G, said that would be no detrimental impact on residents during the upgrade process. "There will be no disruption in power service or traffic delays related to the project. All the work will be done on or near the existing right-of-way."

In addition, he pointed out that it is solely the transmission lines that will be upgraded and not the distribution system, which includes the lines that come into homes off of the utility poles. "Transmission is like our region's interstate highways, while the distribution system is similar to our local roadways," he explained.

There will, however, be a change to the electrical towers used. According to Muzikar, older towers will be replaced with new monopoles that will stand 35 feet higher.

When planning the upgrades, Muzikar explained that the company took into account the current and future needs of its users. When asked specifically if the company prepared for the potential use of plug-in vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt; he replied, "PSE&G is currently analyzing the impact of electric vehicles on local distribution systems and the electric grid should there be wide-spread adoption in the future".

The benefits resulting from this project will not be limited solely to PSE&G customers. Even residents serviced by other power companies, such JCP&L, will see better service.

"The North Central Reliability Project is designed to maintain and improve the reliability of the electric system in the region, not just for PSE&G customers," Muzikar said. "The upgrade will help the region's utilities meet the growing demand for safe, reliable electricity. Therefore, JCP&L customers will also experience the benefit of improved reliability from this project".

Prior to the commencement of the project, the company must first receive approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities later this year. If approved, work could begin as soon as March 2012 with an estimated in-service date of June 2014.

Have additional questions regarding the North Central Reliability Project? PSE&G has scheduled a number of public meetings over the next two weeks for residents affected by the upgrade to voice their concerns and get the facts straight from the energy experts. A complete schedule is below:

• March 22 - Mayfair Farms (481 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange)
• March 24 - Renaissance Woodbridge (Route 1, Iselin)
• March 28 - Frelinghuysen Arboretum (53 Hanover Avenue, Whippany) 
• March 31 - L'Affaire Fine Catering (1099 US Highway 22, Mountainside)

*Note all meetings held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

More information on the North Central Reliability Project, including a detailed map of the upgrades, can be found here.