NEWARK, N.J., March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service
Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) today announced it will seek
approval from the New Jersey Board
of Utilities for the North Central Reliability Project, which would
upgrade transmission lines and substations from existing
138,000-volt (138kV) power to 230,000-volt (230kV) power in the
northern and central regions of the state. The upgrade is required
by the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., the independent regional
planning organization. The project will maintain reliability for
New Jersey businesses and
residents, provide better power quality, and reduce transmission
system congestion in the region.
"The North Central Reliability Project is essential to meet the
region's demand for electricity over the long term and ensure that
customers continue to have the reliable electric service they have
come to expect," said Ralph LaRossa,
president and chief operating officer of PSE&G.
The North Central Reliability Project would upgrade existing
PSE&G transmission lines and stations along its right-of-way
from the Roseland Switching Station in Essex County to the West Orange Switching
Station in Essex County and to the
Sewaren Switching Station in Middlesex
County. The existing 138kV transmission lines would be
replaced with 230kV transmission lines across 35 miles through
West Orange, Livingston, Roseland, Florham
Park, Chatham Borough,
Chatham Township, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Watchung, Scotch
Plains, Fanwood,
Clark, Edison, Metuchen and Woodbridge.
PSE&G will file for project approval with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in
May of 2011. With BPU approval, work could begin in early 2012,
with an in-service date of June
2014.
The cost of the project is currently estimated at between
$300-$350 million, and will create
approximately 700,000 man hours of employment in the state of
New Jersey during the course of
the project.
PSE&G's public outreach and communications program will
provide the public with extensive information and opportunities to
review the plans. Full details about the project can be found on
the project website, ncreliabilityproject.pseg.com, and the public
can e-mail comments and questions to
reliabilityproject@pseg.com.
Public Workshop Schedule:
PSE&G has scheduled four public workshops at locations along
the route for members of the public to learn more about the project
and speak with experts on a one-on-one basis. Workshops are held
between the hours of 4 - 8 p.m., and
the public is invited to attend the workshop that is most
convenient.
- Tuesday, March 22 – Mayfair
Farms, 481 Eagle Rock Avenue, West
Orange.
- Thursday, March 24 – Renaissance
Woodbridge, Route 1, Iselin.
- Monday, March 28 – The
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 East Hanover Avenue, Morristown.
- Thursday, March 31 – L'Affaire
Fine Catering, 1099 US Highway 22, Mountainside.
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
(www.pseg.com).
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SOURCE Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)