HUDSON VALLEY- New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) has expanded its Energy Control Center, strengthening their ability to respond to power outages and restore electricity more quickly to its utility customers.
The facility serves more than 1.9 million customers and manages the companies’ electric transmission and distribution systems. Operators monitor the electrical grid, identify outages and, when possible, remotely reroute power to restore service safely.
“The Energy Control Center is a critical resource that allows us to safely and effectively respond to outages across the state,” said Tom Donnelly, senior director of the Energy Control Center.
Donnelly noted that the companies have restored power to more than 160,000 customers in less than five minutes this year, crediting investments in automation and the expertise of control center operators.
Over the past three years, the company has installed nearly 2,800 automated devices and reclosers, bringing the total across their service areas to more than 6,100. The technology gives operators greater control and visibility of the electrical grid and can help restore power in minutes rather than hours.
The expansion includes a newly constructed distribution room, created through renovations and upgrades to existing office space. The project also included improvements to electrical, mechanical, data, fire-protection, and plumbing systems.
Union representatives from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 10 and 36 welcomed the improvements, noting that modern technology and an upgraded workspace will better support employees responding to outages and maintaining the system.
The Energy Control Center currently employs 124 people. Company officials say the expansion will provide additional space and resources to meet the changing needs of the electric system and improve service reliability for customers.
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