Circuit Reliability Upgrades to Begin in Smithtown

(UNIONDALE, N.Y. – March 15, 2021) – PSEG Long Island is improving the reliability of the energy grid in the Town of Smithtown. This is one of many system improvements included in the “Power On” program.

“PSEG Long Island is committed to making every effort to ensure our grid is resilient during storms,” said Peggy Keane, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Construction and Operations Services. “This infrastructure improvement project in Smithtown is part of our ongoing, multi-year work to improve electric reliability for our customers.”

Beginning in mid-March and lasting approximately seven months, PSEG Long Island licensed and approved contractors will work along approximately 5.77 miles of mainline distribution lines in the Smithtown area. To ensure traffic moves safely, PSEG Long Island will provide cones, flaggers and signage at the work sites as needed. Local officials will be notified in advance regarding any traffic concerns.

The storm-hardening improvements include:

• Stronger Poles: PSEG Long Island will replace some existing utility poles with stronger, more durable poles that are capable of withstanding winds up to 135 mph. The new poles will be approximately the same height as the existing poles, have a stronger base and will be placed no more than 5 feet from the current pole locations. PSEG Long Island will actively coordinate 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 will be installing shorter cross arms atop some poles.
• Stronger Wire: Current wire will be replaced with more resilient and durable wire.
• Upgrading: PSEG Long Island will upgrade or replace deteriorated equipment as necessary.

Crews will be working on the following streets:

• Sunken Meadow Road between Bread and Cheese Hollow Road and just east of Kohr Road.
• Meadow Glen Road between Sunken Meadow Road and Pulaski Road.
• Fort Salonga Road (25A) between Bread and Cheese Hollow Road, past Sunken Meadow State Parkway to W Main Street.

As part of our physical distancing protocols, PSEG Long Island asks that customers remain in their homes when crews are working nearby. If customers must speak with our crews or contractors, we ask that they practice responsible “social distancing” and remain at least 6 feet away to ensure the health of everyone involved. For more information about how PSEG Long Island continues to live up to its commitments during the pandemic, please visit www.psegliny.com/covid19.

Recently, PSEG Long Island launched Power On, a new initiative aimed at reducing outages and increasing reliability by strengthening electric distribution lines, targeting vulnerable circuits across Long Island and the Rockaways. This program builds upon work completed as part of the federally-funded FEMA mitigation program by storm hardening even more of the energy infrastructure.

Power On focuses on mainline circuits, the backbone of PSEG Long Island’s distribution system. The mainlines feed the many branch lines that power the homes and businesses in individual communities.

For more project details, visit https://www.psegliny.com/inthecommunity/currentinitiatives/stormhardeningprojects

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PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a long-term contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company.