Storm-Hardening Projects
Strengthening the Infrastructure
PSEG Long Island is standing up to severe weather by storm hardening the electric infrastructure that powers our communities. Our storm-hardening program focuses on mainline circuits, the backbone of PSEG Long Island’s distribution system. The mainline powers the many branch lines that power your home or business.
In 2021, the sections of circuits that are storm hardened saw a 51% reduction in damage leading to outages compared to the rest of the distribution system.
What's Happening in Your Town?
Storm-Hardening Upgrades
Storm-hardening upgrades include stronger poles, narrower cross arms that help wires deflect falling branches, stronger wire and smart switches that minimize the number of customers affected by any one outage. Since 2014, the company has made significant investments in strengthening the electric infrastructure. Using $729 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), PSEG Long Island has completed storm hardening and reliability work on more than, 900 miles of distribution mainline circuits, 887 new smart switches installed and 24,800 poles replaced.
Continued Efforts: PowerOn
PSEG Long Island’s current storm hardening initiative, PowerOn, builds upon work completed as part of the federally-funded FEMA mitigation program by storm hardening even more of the energy infrastructure. PowerOn strengthens vulnerable electric distribution lines across Long Island and the Rockaways. Specifically, PowerOn upgrades include:
- Stronger Poles: PSEG Long Island is replacing some existing utility poles with stronger, more durable poles that are capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph. The new poles are approximately the same height as the existing poles, have a stronger base and are placed about 3 feet from the current pole locations. PSEG Long Island actively coordinates the removal of old poles with other utilities and municipalities.
- Narrow Profiles: To help wires deflect falling limbs instead of catching them, PSEG Long Island is installing shorter cross arms atop some poles.
- Stronger Wire: Current wire is being replaces with more resilient and durable wire.
- Upgrading Equipment: PSEG Long Island will upgrade or replace deteriorated equipment as necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
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PSEG Long Island crews will generally work Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with limited Saturday work. No work will be done on major holidays.
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PSEG Long Island licensed and approved contractors.
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Trees growing near power lines significantly increase the chance of power outages and pose safety risks. As we expand and improve our electric circuits, we will trim trees, where necessary, following our utility best practice model (ANSI A300 standards as well as the Best Management Practices Tree Pruning publication): 8 feet to each side; 12 feet above; and 10 feet below the conductor.
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The new poles will be approximately the same height as existing poles, have a stronger base and will be placed about two-to-three feet from the current pole locations. PSEG Long Island will actively coordinate the removal of old poles with other utilities and municipalities.
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There will be minor traffic interruptions related to this work. To ensure traffic moves safely, PSEG Long Island licensed and approved contractors will provide cones, flagmen and signage at the work site, as needed, to minimize interruptions.
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PSEG Long Island anticipates some localized, intentional, short-duration power outages related to this project. All affected customers will be notified in advance of any power outage.