Con Edison & NYCHA Complete ‘Cool’ Project to Upgrade Electrical Lines at Developments

Con Edison has completed inspections and service upgrades at 29 NYCHA buildings, ensuring that residents will be able to use the new air conditioners they will receive under a city program.

The company, working with NYCHA, reviewed the energy usage and equipment at more than 200 buildings and identified 29 of those for inspections. The company conducted those inspections with NYCHA and upgraded the service lines at 19 of the 29 buildings, giving those buildings the capacity to run the air conditioners. The service lines at the remaining 10 buildings did not require upgrades.

The service line carries electricity from Con Edison’s electric-delivery cables in the street to a building.

The project fits with the Con Edison and NYCHA objective of keeping people safe and comfortable during a summer when the coronavirus will remain a threat to health.

“Safe, reliable power during the hot summer months is essential at a time when all of us - but especially vulnerable populations - have to take precautions against the pandemic,” said Patrick McHugh, Con Edison’s vice president, Engineering and Planning. “Once NYCHA asked us to examine our equipment at their developments, we assigned a group of engineers and planners to determine where we could make upgrades. Our team and crews made it a priority to finish the work in time for summer.” 

“NYCHA and the City of New York continue to work toward protecting our most vulnerable residents during this pandemic,” said Gregory Russ, the chairman and CEO of NYCHA. “These air conditioning units for our seniors are a testament to our commitment and we are grateful to Mayor de Blasio, NYSERDA and Con Edison, who have provided the resources to ensure our residents remain healthy and safe this summer.”

The 29 lines that crews inspected were at 13 NYCHA developments. There were two developments in Brooklyn, five in the Bronx and six in Manhattan. The city is providing up to 74,000 air conditioners to low-income seniors. About 22,000 of those units are going to NYCHA residents.

Con Edison and NYCHA are working together on another energy initiative. Called “Community Power,” the demonstration project would place solar panels on the roofs of NYCHA developments. It is part of Con Edison’s effort to make renewable energy available to low- and moderate-income customers.

The project would give 350 low- and moderate-income households access to solar energy for a discounted price. Up to 15 NYCHA residents would receive paid job training and be hired to install the panels. The 1-megawatt solar initiative would avoid the emission of more than 1.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Solar One is Con Edison’s lead partner on the project. WE ACT for Environmental Justice and the Brooklyn Movement Center will help enroll customers. Green City Force will recruit NYCHA residents for the paid solar installer apprenticeships.

Co-op Power will finance the solar project with support from Resonant Energy, and Accord Power will complete the installation.

Con Edison invested $1.3 billion to prepare its electric-delivery systems across New York City and Westchester County for the summer of 2020. Along with installing new underground and overhead lines, transformers, network protectors, substation equipment and other components, the company is taking advantage of battery technology, solar and energy efficiency to keep service reliable, prevent emissions and help customers save.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $59 billion in assets. The utility delivers electricity, natural gas and steam to 3.4 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, N.Y. For financial, operations and customer service information, visit www.conEd.com.