Atlantic City Electric's commitment to enhancing the local energy grid, integrating advanced technology and smart devices, and focusing on projects to enhance resilience against increasingly severe weather conditions led to a significant decrease in electric outages experienced by customers in 2023. The frequency of outages improved by 5 percent compared to the previous year, with crews efficiently restoring service within an average of 57 minutes systemwide when outages occurred.
Tamla Olivier, the chief operating officer of Pepco Holdings, which oversees Atlantic City Electric, emphasized the company's dedication to providing reliable energy service as part of their commitment to delivering a top-tier experience to customers. This achievement reflects the ongoing investment in local energy infrastructure and the dedication of Atlantic City Electric's employees to customer support.
The proactive investment by Atlantic City Electric aims to fortify the grid against the escalating frequency and impact of weather events due to climate change, while also facilitating the integration of clean energy resources such as solar and electric vehicles. Key projects in 2023 focused on enhancing reliability and resilience include:
The Beach Haven Battery Storage Project, which installed a battery storage system at an existing substation on Second Street in Beach Haven, benefiting thousands of customers and seasonal visitors in Beach Haven and Long Beach Island, particularly during peak demand periods. The Cape May Substation Reliability Project, involving the modernization and upgrade of a critical substation serving over 7,100 customers in Cape May, West Cape May, and Cape May Point. The Greater Gloucester and Camden Counties Reliability Project, which involved upgrading 10 miles of transmission line between Monroe Township and Pine Hill, benefiting 13,600 customers in Gloucester and Camden counties. The Salem County Reliability Project, focusing on upgrading approximately 3.5 miles of crucial transmission line along Route 130 between Penns Grove and Pennsville, improving energy service for local customers.
These initiatives are complemented by ongoing reliability efforts across South Jersey and the deployment of innovative technologies such as smart switches and reclosers, which automatically detect issues and expedite service restoration by isolating damage. These technologies have played a significant role in reducing outages for customers.
Atlantic City Electric's Smart Energy Network project involves the installation of over 565,000 smart meters and associated equipment, further enhancing customer experience. Continued investments in infrastructure will bolster reliability for customers and address the evolving energy needs of communities across South Jersey.
Click here for more information.