PSE&G Extends Offers to First of 900 People to Work on Electric and Gas Infrastructure Projects
April 16 2009 - 11:26AM
PR Newswire (US)
BPU approval of $694 million in infrastructure investments will
stimulate New Jersey's economy, ensure reliable service NEWARK,
N.J., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With today's approval of
its plan to invest $694 million in accelerated electric and gas
infrastructure projects, Public Service Electric & Gas Company
(PSE&G) began to hire the first of 900 new utility and
contractor positions to be created during the next two years. The
capital infrastructure investment program, approved today by the
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), is in response to Gov.
Jon Corzine's call for increased capital spending to create jobs
while ensuring that customers continue to receive safe, highly
reliable electric and gas service. The company's original proposal,
filed on January 22, would have resulted in $698 million of capital
investments. The amount approved today was part of an agreement
with the BPU staff and the Department of the Public Advocate,
Division of Rate Counsel. The BPU today approved several other
utility plans as well. "PSE&G has always played a strong role
in New Jersey's development and economic health," said Ralph
LaRossa, president and COO of PSE&G. "There's no question that
we can once again help the state get through one of the most
challenging times in its history. We're ready to get to work."
LaRossa said the utility will make every attempt to use local
suppliers and contractors, in addition to its own skilled
workforce. "These projects were carefully reviewed against strict
criteria," said BPU President Jeanne Fox. "By expediting spending
on identified infrastructure needs, these projects can provide
important support for our economy now, as requested by Gov.
Corzine, while ensuring a reliable and secure energy supply for
future economic growth. In addition, by putting many of these
projects out to bid in a slow economy, this work can be completed
at a lower cost to ratepayers." PSE&G has also proposed a $190
million Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program that would encourage
conservation and create about 650 green jobs. If approved, it would
expand an existing program that offers energy audits, programmable
thermostats and other measures to residents in the state's urban
centers, as well as investment-grade audits to hospitals and
businesses, providing additional jobs for contractors. A BPU
decision is expected in June. Under the investment approved today,
PSE&G will begin work on 38 electric and gas initiatives. About
900 skilled utility and contractor positions would be created in
New Jersey during the next two years from this accelerated capital
investment. Electric system improvements to require 600 jobs The
utility will spend $421 million in electric system capital
improvements, including the $50 million replacement of mercury
vapor municipal street lighting with more efficient induction
fluorescent lighting. PSE&G is the first in the nation to offer
the new "green" fixtures, which emit more light, last four times
longer and cost less to operate than older models. PSE&G will
now replace 96,000 street lights in two years, resulting in
immediate cost savings to municipalities. Other electric system
work will include replacement of aged underground cable facilities,
network transformers and relays, and the upgrading of overhead
cable, transformers and substation equipment. About 600 new utility
and contractor positions are expected to be created to perform this
work. Gas system improvements to result in 300 jobs During the next
two years, the utility will spend about $273 million to replace and
reinforce aging gas cast iron and bare steel mains and services,
and upgrade metering and regulating stations. The work will require
the utility to begin hiring PSE&G gas construction employees
between April and June. Additional jobs will be filled by outside
contractors once bids are awarded. The gas distribution stimulus
work is expected to provide about 300 new PSE&G and contractor
jobs. These accelerated investments in the utility's electric and
gas distribution infrastructure will ensure that the company's
systems, many of which are in mature communities, continue to
provide safe and reliable service. PSE&G will recover the costs
of the programs through an annual adjustment to electric and gas
rates, which would increase the typical residential customer's bill
by less than 1 percent, or about $9 per year. All PSE&G
positions to be filled will be posted on http://www.pseg.com/ in
the Careers section. Individuals interested in working for the
company are encouraged to regularly check the site as new jobs are
anticipated to be added. Public Service Electric and Gas Company
(PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and
electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the
state's population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne
Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a
subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG)
(NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company (http://www.pseg.com/).
DATASOURCE: Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G)
CONTACT: Karen Johnson or Bonnie Sheppard, +1-973-430-7734 Web
Site: http://www.pseg.com/
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