Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc. said it has invested $1.5 billion to strengthen overhead and underground transmission systems in New York City and Westchester County in preparation for summer.
The Consolidated Edison Inc. subsidiary will install a 12-MWh battery system on its property in Ozone Park, Queens, in New York City, according to a May 24 company release. The company also plans to upgrade and reinforce 18 network transformers and 74 overhead transformers and replace or upgrade 37 underground feeder sections and 136 overhead spans.
"By making significant investments in our electric delivery systems and deploying new technologies, we provide the reliable service that our customers count on during sweltering summer days," Con Edison President Tim Cawley said in a statement.
Con Edison estimates that the peak demand for electricity during the summer will reach 13,300 MW.
From June to September, the utility expects residential customers to see higher electricity bills compared to a year ago, reflecting higher supply and delivery charges. An average residential customer in New York City using 350 kWh/month may see an 8.4% increase to $105.02 from $96.89 in 2017. A typical Westchester County residential customer using 500 kWh/month may expect an average increase of 4.5% to $133.98 from $128.24, a year ago, according to the news release.
Business customers are expected to see a slight decrease in rates. In New York City, a business customer consuming 10,800 kWh and having a peak demand of 31 kW may see an average monthly bill of $2,274, compared to $2,283 in 2017.
