Upstate NY Power Lines: National Grid's $4B Investment

Power linesPhoto byAmerican Public Power AssociationonUnsplash

National Grid is making a massive investment in upstate New York to improve and upgrade utility lines, add power substations, and improve access roads for prompt repairs during power outages.

The plan, which will cost $4 billion dollars, will improve over 1,000 miles of transmission lines, and add 45 new substations to distribute power. The 6 year plan will address the growing power needs of upstate New Yorkers.

National Grid says the initiative will add 1700 jobs, projecting a $1.9 billion economic impact.

Most of the work will be done on existing right-of-ways, so there will not be a large public disruption.

While the initial monthly cost of power may rise for each consumer in the short term, (National Grid estimates about $2.00 per customer) they said once more power comes online in the grid, the cost will ultimately fall.

Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, and Schenectady counties will all be slated for upgrade work.