To maintain the ongoing reliability, safety and security of the electric distribution system, Rockland Electric Co. (RECO), Pearl River, NY, has -- or will -- initiate a number of major projects to serve the expanding needs of Bergen, Sussex and Passaic, New Jersey, counties. These projects reflect the growing customer base and demand for electricity the company is experiencing. With this situation in mind, RECO has filed an electric base rate case with the New Jersey Board of Public Uitlities (NYBPU).
RECO has begun a $10.5 million project that will expand electric system capacity in RECO's eastern Bergen County service territory by completely rebuilding the Cresskill substation, improving the Closter substation and upgrading the existing high voltage feeders that run between those two substations.
RECO planned the project to meet growing demand for electricity and to improve the reliability of the electric infrastructure that serves its customers. Businesses and residents in Cresskill, Demarest, Alpine, Haworth and Closter will benefit from these improvements, expected to be completed by Spring 2007.
As a further measure to enhance reliability, RECO also is proposing to purchase a spare substation-class distribution transformer that would be located in the RECO service territory. This one-time, $1 million expenditure is to procure a spare transformer that can be used to replace any failed substation transformer on the RECO system. At present, due to increased global market demand and material and component shortages for these units, a replacement transformer would take a minimum of 12 months to procure.
