PSE&G wins award for Energy Strong system

NEWARK, NJ — In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, PSE&G, with support from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, embarked on Energy Strong, a $1.2 billion program that is making electric and gas systems more resilient against severe weather. Under this program, PSE&G greatly expanded the use of advanced technology enabling remote monitoring and control of its electric system, according to a press release.

In recognition of this work, PSE&G was awarded the 2018 POWERGRID International and DistribuTECH Grid Optimization Project of the Year for its Energy Strong Advanced Technologies Program. In San Antonio in January, the award was presented at the DistribuTECH Conference attended by representatives from more than 300 electric, gas and water utilities around the world.

“When Superstorm Sandy hit, it was difficult to gauge just how bad the damage was until PSE&G crews were deployed to the scene,” Jorge Cardenas, PSE&G vice president of asset management and centralized services, said. “Our investment in smart grid technologies has improved our ability to assess damage during storms, prevent power outages and get the lights back on faster when outages do occur.”

The Energy Strong Advanced Technologies program included the expanded use of microprocessor relays, installation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or “SCADA,” equipment at key substations, and deployment of a centralized Distribution SCADA Master Station that enables remote control and visibility of distribution circuits. This enables rapid diagnosis of circuit conditions during severe weather events.

The end result is that customers experience fewer power outages and, if they do experience a loss of power, electricity is restored more quickly.

Before this project, approximately 650,000 customers were served by an advanced technology system. Post-project, approximately 2.1 million customers, or 91 percent of all PSE&G customers, are now on the system and benefiting from a reduction in the number and duration of electric outages on blue-sky days and during storms.

  PSEG