PSE&G Restores Power to More Than 140,000 Customers Statewide
PSE&G's entire service territory recently experienced storms and a record-breaking heatwave. For more than a week, PSE&G crews worked tirelessly, braving severe thunderstorms and scorching 100-deg days, to restore power to thousands of customers each day.
During that time, the crews replaced more than 500 transformers, and PSE&G's appliance services business responded to more than 8,000 appliance calls including air conditioning units.
The utility mobilized resources quickly and safely across the state, working around the clock. Crews were deployed immediately, assessing damage and using new technologies and proven experience to identify critical areas to work on, ensuring the fastest restoration for the most customers. Additional crews were moved around the state to address the hardest-hit areas.
Critical facilities like hospitals and emergency services were prioritized. We maintained constant communication with our customers through our website, call center, and mobile application.
PSE&G prepares all year long with trained crews and supplies at the ready, so that when extreme weather strikes, the crews are ready. According to the company, the storm response highlighted its preparedness, resilience and commitment to customer service.
PSE&G would like to thank its customers as well as its crews for their rapid response to the extreme weather.
"None of this would be possible without our highly skilled, hardworking, dedicated crews," stated the company. "We appreciate their commitment to safety above all and operational excellence and customer service. We value their ability to do what’s right and get the job done in difficult situations."
The utility has invested billions of dollars to strengthen and harden its infrastructure.
"With 2.4 million electric customers, our systems held up well overall during the extreme weather, the company continued. "We know that when we invest, make upgrades and modernize our systems, our systems perform even better. While extreme weather events are unavoidable, with the right near-term strategies and long-term investments, we can continue to effectively manage and restore our customers safely and as quickly as possible."
Watch a Video of Crews Replacing a Blown Transformer in the Backyard
Click here to check out a YouTube Short showing crews replacing a blown transformer.
This 25 kVA transformer previously fed eight homes. Since its original installation many years ago, many of the homes have increased in size, adding appliances, more air conditioning units and several electric vehicles, far outpacing what the original transformer was designed for. Then the heat wave hit.
Rather than replace like for like, the crew replaced the 25 kVA transformer serving eight homes with a 50 kVA transformer serving four homes and split the service, installing a second 50 kVA transformer to serve the other four homes.
Before the crew performed the swap, PSE&G spoke with customers about their energy demands and engineering visited to ensure this was the right solution.
About the Author
Amy Fischbach
Electric Utilities Operations
Amy Fischbach is the Field Editor for T&D World magazine and manages the Electric Utility Operations section. She is the host of the Line Life Podcast, which celebrates the grit, courage and inspirational teamwork of the line trade. She also works on the annual Lineworker Supplement and the Vegetation Management Supplement as well as the Lineman Life and Lineman's Rodeo News enewsletters. Amy also covers events such as the Trees & Utilities conference and the International Lineman's Rodeo. She is the past president of the ASBPE Educational Foundation and ASBPE and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Kansas State University. She can be reached at [email protected].