Orange & Rockland Invests $293 Million to Strengthen Grid Reliability for Summer

Orange and Rockland Utilities is investing $293 million this year to continue improving the reliability and resilience of its electric system, all while focusing on promoting energy efficiency and helping customers keep bills affordable.

This work includes the development and implementation of energy efficiency and clean energy projects as the company prepares for this summer’s peak electricity demands and weather events. To provide its customers with safe and reliable energy, O&R is expanding upon approximately $156 million invested into its infrastructure in 2024. This marks over $1 billion on electric system maintenance and reliability projects over the last decade.

Last summer, O&R mobilized its emergency response workforce 10 times due to extreme weather events and multiple heat waves. Despite an uptick in mobilizations from previous years, O&R’s investments in system reliability paid dividends, with the average number of customers affected during storm interruptions decreasing by nearly 30 percent in 2024 compared to 2023.

“Orange & Rockland customers expect and deserve reliable service, especially during the summer months as New York continues to face record heat and increased severe weather events,” Michele O’Connell, O&R president and CEO said . “We are proud to continue investing in new and existing infrastructure throughout our entire service territory, delivering dependable electric service, all while providing our customers with a variety of options to become more energy efficient and maintain affordable bills.”