NYSEG and RG&E provide reliable data to customers during outages
Energy Control Center provides 90 percent accuracy for estimated time of restoration during fair weather and minor storms
Well-managed ETR process strategic push in 2024
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — February 26, 2025 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) today announced that its Energy Control Center provided 90 percent accuracy in estimated times of restoration (ETRs) during fair weather and minor storms to customers in 2024.
“Communication is key for our customers in the event of an outage,” said Christopher Lafey, senior manager of NYSEG and RG&E’s Energy Control Center. “Our Energy Control Center (ECC) operates around the clock, giving us real-time access to the configuration of the energy grid, helping our crews sectionalize and restore power in an expedited fashion. We take pride in providing accurate outage information to customers and look to build on our success in 2025.”
The ECC operates the transmission and distribution systems for NYSEG and RG&E. It manages all the planned work, projects, and emergency work by controlling energy flow across thousands of miles of transmissions and distribution lines. When unexpected power outages occur, ECC personnel examine the grid and in some cases can sectionize and restore all or part of the outage remotely. It also provides vital information to line crews, such as where incidents are located, potential isolating devices, and available tie points, which help streamline restorations.
An ETR is one of the most valuable pieces of information NYSEG and RG&E provides customers when outages occur. It allows customers to plan around any potential inconvenience they may experience during this time. For outages with a total duration of two hours or less, an ETR is considered accurate if the final restoration is no more than 15 minutes past the estimate and there is no more than one change. For outages with a total duration of greater than two hours, an ETR is considered accurate if the final restoration is no more than 90 minutes before or 15 minutes past the estimate and there are no more than two changes.
Smart meters will allow NYSEG and RG&E to build on the successes of the ECC. They will allow the Companies to rapidly pinpoint and respond to outages. Smart meters will also enable more efficient resource management, further aiding in ETR accuracy. So far, more than one million smart meters have been installed in New York State.
Media Contact:
Michael Baggerman