PSEG LI to unveil 30-point plan to fortify Long Island's electric grid

With the prospect of stronger winds, more frequent floods and higher temperatures expected for the region by 2050, PSEG Long Island this week will present a plan to fortify the LIPA grid to help reduce outages and damage.

Paying for the plan will come from a combination of federal grants, some already committed to the utility, and from future rates, though costs for specific projects in the plan were not disclosed. They will be part of the annual budget process at LIPA, which owns the grid and commissioned the study

The plan, which follows a study in the spring that examined the depth of Long Island grid’s exposures, comes even as grid-owner LIPA is eyeing a possible replacement of PSEG as grid operator through a request for proposal process that will conclude in coming weeks and months.

PSEG’s plan examines real-world changes and projections for the region in outlining 30 programs to help fortify the grid. Several of the projects, some already underway, make use of money already committed to LIPA by the federal government, either as part of storm hardening grants or mitigation from prior storms.

About a third of the proposed projects are new initiatives, said Joanna Weissman, manager of climate change and resilience for PSEG Long Island.

The plan doesn't include potential impacts to power plants and other power sources for Long Island. Weissman noted power generation wasn't included in the scope of the project. Costs for ratepayer-funded improvements in the plan will be funded through LIPA's annual budgeting process, she said.

Strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on the grid include basic fixes such as replacing older and damaged poles with newer ones capable of withstanding stronger winds; to replacing and potentially moving essential equipment to higher ground.

It also includes assessing and mitigating risks for flooding, anticipating hotter and longer heat waves and even preparing for wildfires. It proposes greater use of technology to monitor equipment, including voltage levels into customer homes, and buying more backup equipment to have on hand to quickly restore weather-related outages.

The program foresees the need to further fortify vulnerable substations — mini-power distribution centers located across Long Island — to help them withstand flooding and other impacts. It foresees moving some equipment to higher ground. Substations that could see equipment replaced, bolstered or relocated include those in Fire Island Pines, Ocean Beach, Oyster Bay, Peconic, Northport, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Woodmere, Green Acres, Southold and Patchogue.

“As recent extreme-weather events have illustrated, the effects of climate change threaten the assets and operations and thus impact the safety and reliability of service,” the PSEG plan said. “The adaption measures presented in this [plan] are intended to improve customer experience by enabling the system to better withstand and respond to extreme climate events.”

The plan foresees increasing heat as point of exposure for the grid, noting the capacity of the system to transmit power decreases as temperatures rise “to extremes.” By 2050, the report stated, Long Island could experience an average of up to two weeks a year with average temperatures above 86 degrees and maximum temperatures above 95 degrees, a five-fold increase from current trends.

That puts pressure on the grid as more customers crank down air conditioning temperatures. “Operating the system at sustained peak load in high temperatures can affect grid components and cause premature aging and/or sudden failure of critically important assets,” the report said.

The report proposes a “wildfire assessment program” because parts of the LIPA territory are “prone to wildfires and have been identified to be among the highest risk in New York State for wildfire.” PSEG would hire outside experts to assess the system’s risks to wildfires and propose a  plan for response and mitigation.

Weissman said PSEG doesn't expect that Long Island will experience wildfires on the order of those on the west coast, but "we do have the pine barrens," where fires have been an issue in the past. One consideration: "Does it make sense to put equipment monitoring out there?" she said. 

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.