PEARL RIVER – Orange and Rockland Utilities continues to make improvements to its electric service system to improve reliability and further develop energy efficiency programs, particularly as hot summer weather taxes the system.
In Orange County, the newest addition to O&R’s electric service reliability lineup is the recently completed $26 million Deerpark electric substation, which will begin providing power to the community in the coming days.
The new facility will directly benefit 6,500 customer and is needed to meet the increased electrical requirements in the Town of Deerpark and will provide increased service reliability to Port Jervis.
Company officials said it will also provide indirect benefits to Huguenot, Cuddebackville, Sparrowbush, Glen Spey and Forestburgh.
In Rockland County, the newest addition to O&R’s service reliability is the smart meter program. Those devices provide two-way, wireless communication between O&R and its customers’ energy service by providing them with greater choice, control and convenience over their energy use.
Customers will also be able to see where and why their consumption increases or decreases and can act to reduce their bills.
Since the installation began in Rockland last summer, O&R crews and contractors have installed approximately 60,000 smart electric meters and over 40,000 smart meter modules for gas meters.
O&R plans to install 230,000 electric smart meters in its New York service territory by the end of 2020.
