March 28,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in 2017 Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), New Jersey’s largest utility, today unveiled a proposal for the second phase of its natural gas infrastructure modernization program. If approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the program will enable PSE&G to continue to accelerate the replacement of its aging cast-iron and unprotected steel gas pipes – installing 1,250 miles of new gas mains over a five-year period. The proposed cost is about $540 million a year, or $2.7 billion in total.
While many readers have constantly complained about Village and County roads the fact is that PSE&G has just under 4,000 miles of cast-iron gas pipes, which is more than any other utility in the nation. At the pace proposed today, the utility can replace in 20 years its cast-iron and unprotected steel pipes with new, modern plastic pipes.
Pipes installed before 1960 are the most leak-prone. They make up 25 percent of PSE&G’s network, yet account for 65 percent of leaks, excluding third-party damages. The five-year pipe replacement program would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 43,000 vehicles off the road.
Benefits of the work include improved safety and reliability of gas service, reduction in methane emissions and creation of jobs. Since 2009, PSE&G’s residential customers’ gas heating bills are down 50 percent because of the lower cost of natural gas.
When infrastructure is not updated you end up with the same situation we have with Ridgewood Water , just imagine power rationing , like we currently have with water rationing ?
The upgrades will take place across PSE&G’s service territory in 11 counties, concentrating on urban areas established in the early 1900s, where much of the utility’s cast-iron and unprotected steel gas pipes are located. PSE&G works with municipalities to determine when replacements will be done.
In addition to ensuring the continued safety and reliability of the gas system, the proposed program would create almost 3,000 full time jobs per year for the duration of the program.”
Enhanced safety is an important benefit of the work. When lines are replaced, gas meters located inside the home or business are moved outside. This allows PSE&G and other first-responders to shut off gas more quickly in the event of an emergency, facilitates routine safety inspections and provides easier access for meter readings. Also, excess flow valves are installed in the individual lines that run from the mains to customers. These valves automatically shut off gas when a service line is damaged.
The upgraded lines will operate on elevated pressure to support the expanded use of high-efficiency appliances, improving customer satisfaction, and reducing customer’s energy bills and emissions through improved efficiency.
bad news travels on a fast horse..Roads are crap today basically Undriveable .no one gives a shit.
Extra duty work for the RPD, cha-ching…. somehow always leads to a bigger OT bill sent to Municipal taxpayers, who are also PSE&G rate payers as well. Screwed from all sides!
I don’t know why all the utilities don’t go back to the way it was , they had flagman years ago.