August 2011, Vol. 238 No. 8

Projects

PSE&G Expands Investments In Upgrades and Energy Efficiency

Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) is planning investments to accelerate its electric and gas infrastructure and energy efficiency program.

The utility will spend about $195 million in accelerated capital improvements to its electric distribution network that are expected to create more than 300 jobs. The accelerated gas stimulus work includes eight projects representing an investment of $78 million to enhance the reliability of the utility’s gas distribution system.

Among the projects are the replacement of 47 miles of aging cast iron and bare steel gas mains and 4,200 bare steel gas services. Additional projects include the replacement of aging or obsolete gas pressure regulators, metering and regulating equipment, and electronic measurement systems. The projects will create more than 150 positions.

These latest investments are in addition to about $700 million already invested by the utility since 2009 in accelerated infrastructure upgrades that resulted in 1,300 new jobs created. PSE&G will recover the cost of the new programs through adjustments to electric and gas rates that would increase the typical residential customer’s bill by less than 1% when taken together.