About the Susquehanna-Roseland electric Reliability Project

• Where is it? 
• What will it look like? 
• How will this benefit me? 
• Why do we need it? 
• About PJM 
• Independent third party endorsments 
• Video overview of project 

The selected route begins in Hardwick, Warren County, proceeds east to Andover, Sussex County, and on to Jefferson, Morris County. The route continues east to Montville and then turns south to Roseland, Essex County.

It follows an existing power line for the entire 45-mile length and will pass through 16 municipalities. They include: Andover, Boonton Township, Byram, East Hanover, Fredon, Hardwick, Hopatcong Borough, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Montville, Town of Newton, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Rockaway, Roseland, Sparta and Stillwater.

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What will it look like? 

The towers that exist today are between 72.5 and 187 feet high and are mostly lattice structures.  Because of the increased voltage of the new line, the new towers will be between 145 and 195 feet high. Several different types of towers may be used along the line, including monopoles and lattice towers. The type of tower could depend on several factors, including potential construction and environmental impacts.

To view the updated site plans, click here.

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How will this benefit me? 

There are several significant benefits to electric customers in the region. This line will:

• Keep your lights on.
• Fortify the grid in the entire region, making it less likely that a problem with one power line would lead to a regional blackout like the one that affected millions of people in August 2003.
• Contain prices. One reason electricity is more expensive in New Jersey is that our grid is so congested. This line will ease the electricity traffic and reduce those congestion costs.

 “The Susquehanna to Roseland transmission line is essential for New Jersey to meet the growing demand for electricity over the long term. PJM has already identified a number of areas in which additional transmission facilities are needed to ensure the continued reliability of our region’s electric grid and our state’s economic growth. While long-term reliability is driving the need to build this line, we also expect that it will eventually ease transmission congestion and lower electric prices for our customers.”
-- Ralph LaRossa, president and chief operating officer of PSE&G

"Reliability is paramount. It is the goal and the driving force for everything we do at PJM.  To meet our reliability responsibilities we need to get new major transmission facilities built."
-- Terry Boston, PJM president and chief executive officer.

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Why do we need it? 

We all expect the lights to come on when we flip the switch. Without this important project, that might not happen.

This project has been undertaken by PSE&G at the direction of PJM Interconnection, which is responsible for planning the regional power grid. PJM has determined that this new 500kV power line is needed to prevent overloaded lines and maintain the reliability of the region’s electric service.

Electricity is carried to and throughout our region by transmission lines. These lines link to power generating stations and carry the power to our homes and offices. Electricity cannot be stored. Once it is generated, it is carried through transmission and distribution lines to our homes and offices. PJM uses a complex system to coordinate which generation systems are operating when and at what capacity. This system considers peak and off-peak energy usage to prevent generated power from being wasted.

A regional system also provides a plan for individual utilities to respond during emergencies. This system does not function without reliable transmission.

The line that exists today was built in the 1920s, long before we had TVs and computers in nearly every home. And despite today’s economic crunch, electricity use is certain to increase. Soon, we even may be plugging electric cars into the grid.

Without the Susquehanna-Roseland Electric Reliability Project, the existing lines may overheat and sag. Grid managers could have to reduce voltage, causing brownouts. If that’s not enough, they’d impose rolling blackouts. And all this increases the risk of a catastrophic and uncontrolled blackout.

Conservation
PSE&G is working hard to encourage conservation. Our crews are in the field today adding insulation, plugging leaks, and replacing old furnaces. We are seeking permission from the Board of Public Utilities to dramatically expand these programs.

But we still need this line. That’s the judgment of the experts who manage the grid. And if we don’t build it, they will find someone else to do the job.

In the meantime, yes, let’s do all we can to conserve energy.

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About PJM 

PJM Interconnection is the independent regional entity, under the auspices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, responsible for planning the transmission system in 13 states, including the State of New Jersey. It has determined that these projects are needed to ensure reliability of electricity supplies in our region. These lines will help maintain reliability of the grid and enable PSE&G and other utilities to continue to meet the increasing demand for safe, reliable electric service. Meeting future electric demand will also ensure New Jersey’s economic growth.

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Independent third party endorsments 

“As we develop new sources of energy and electricity, we will also need to modernize our national utility grid so that it’s accommodating to new sources of power, more efficient, and more reliable.”
- President Barack Obama 

“America’s transmission infrastructure is in serious need of an overhaul. The Energy Information Administration projects electricity consumption will increase 25 percent by 2030, a significant demand on a stressed and aging infrastructure.”
- US Representative Denny Rehberg (R – Montana) 

"One of the most important infrastructure projects that we need is a whole new electricity grid."
- President Barack Obama

 “We can generate all the electricity from wind and other renewable sources we want, but it doesn’t do us any good if we don’t have the capacity to get it to consumers.” 
- US Senator Lisa Murkowski (R – Alaska) 

“The new line is necessary to prevent blackouts like the one in August 2003.”
- US Representative Scott Garrett (R – New Jersey)

“New Jersey does not have the generating capacity to be self- sufficient in electricity. It is dependent on the vast power grid administered by PJM Interconnection, a consortium that distributes power to 51 million people in the northeastern quadrant of the country. The proposed line would add capacity needed to avoid future brownouts and blackouts.”
- The Star Ledger editorial 

“Demand for electricity increases on par with population and the many electrical gadgets we use today. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission divides the country into sections and the transmission organization for New Jersey and neighboring states, PJM, has determined that more electric power is needed. PSE&G has no choice but to comply.”
- The Daily Record editorial

Video overview of project 

• Click here to view a video about the project. 

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