Elizabeth

Jefferson Ave Substation Overview

PSE&G is currently conducting statewide electric reliability improvements to upgrade its utility infrastructure. These upgrades will increase both electric service reliability and system redundancy to ensure safe and reliable electric service to our customers. Throughout PSE&G service territory, PSE&G infrastructure upgrades include the addition of substation hardening and a 69kV network that will alleviate the demand on the existing network. These projects will install 69kV circuits connecting stations to each other. 

Activity Overview

  • New 69kV circuits will connect the new Roselle Substation to the Elizabeth substation located on Jefferson Ave.
  • New 69kV circuits will connect the stations.  Overhead construction will take place along …..Chestnut St (between Jefferson Ave/Madison Ave) Madison Ave (between Chestnut St & Magnolia Ave) Magnolia Ave (between Madison Ave & Catherine St) Catherine St (between Magnolia Ave & Lafayette St) Lafayette St (between Catherine St & Livingston St) Livingston St (between Lafayette St & 5th St) 5th St (Livingston St & Summer St), Summer St (between 5th St & S. Broadt St), S. Broad St (Summer St & Grove St), Grove St (S. Broad St & New York Ave), New York Ave (between Grove St & Elmora Ave), Elmora Ave (between New York St & Rahway Ave RT 27) Rahway Ave (between Elmora Ave Elizabeth Border)
  • The existing utility poles will be replaced with taller, sturdier poles that combine new 69kV circuits with existing 26kV, 13kV, or 4kV circuits.
  • Vegetation Management activity such as tree trimming or tree removals may occur in order to allow for the safe installation of new equipment.
  • PSE&G will work with the Elizabeth Police to keep traffic impacts to a minimum.

Construction Activity 

As of June 2025, the process of upgrading and transferring the lines has started.

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Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Parts of our current electric system were built for life in the 1960s. A modern network is needed to meet the increased electric demands and reliability expectations of the 21st century.

  • Increased power capacity: With 300% more capacity, the new lines will better support our modern, technology-driven lifestyles, including work-at-home schedules, increased electronics usage, and expanding electric vehicle adoption.
  • Fewer and shorter outages: Smart sensors and relays will be added to automatically detect problems and redirect the flow
    of electricity, reducing outages and expediting restorations.
  • Supporting clean energy: A smarter grid will connect customers with renewables like solar and offshore wind. A more
    robust electric network is vital to New Jersey’s clean energy vision.

69kV electric lines are the standard of the 21st century. They will ultimately replace and enhance a 50+ year-old system built on 26kV
lines, increasing reliability, capacity and safety. 

Existing pole lines carry 4kV, 13kV or 26kV lines. The replacement pole line will carry the existing lines plus a new 69kV line for added reliability and capacity, as well as lightning protection.

Building the 69kV utility lines underground is six to seven times more expensive than typical utility pole construction. The additional expense does not include burying any of the existing electric service lines,
telecommunication, and cable. PSE&G is an overhead utility, meaning that power lines are built overhead where feasible. The vast majority of 69kV lines built by PSE&G since 2007 are overhead. Lines are built underground only when engineering determines it is necessary, such as crossing a railroad, highway or river.

If our engineering indicates that overhead construction is feasible and a municipality requests that a line be installed underground, the municipality must pay for the cost differential.

PSE&G considers many factors in its pole line selection process, including presence of existing utilities; feasibility of engineering and construction; use of public and private property; environmental impacts; cost; construction schedule; feasibility of long-term maintenance; and accessibility.

Since 2007, PSE&G has updated more than 575 miles of power lines in almost 100 towns. Over the next several years, PSE&G will replace 400 miles of power lines and equipment that is 50+ years old.


ABOUT CONSTRUCTION

  • PSE&G will work with municipal officials to minimize any disruptions and coordinate traffic flow
    during construction. We will also communicate any disruptions directly with impacted customers. On days when school is in session, crews will work to minimize disruption to school pickup and drop off when possible.
  • The work will be done in stages, i.e. pole set, transfer existing construction, build-up 69kV, set-up for wire installation, wire installation, tie-in wire, set-up for fiber installation, fiber installation, tie-in fiber. Typically, a crew will be at same pole up to 5 times, intermittently,  during the course of the project. 
  • No mess will be left behind. When a new pole is installed, the excess dirt is left around the base of the new pole. This is left for two reasons: to compensate for any settling and for Verizon to use to back-fill when they remove the old pole. If a customer has a concern about the soil left at the base of a pole and requests us to remove it ,we can. The same process is used if we open a sidewalk, except we would make repairs around the base of new pole with either a new sidewalk flag or repairs around the base of pole, depending on field conditions. If we set a new pole in a location with brick pavers, we will stack the bricks next to the pole for Verizon to use once they remove the old pole and restore the area the pole was removed from. No other material or equipment would be left at the work location when crews are not working.
  • There may be momentary lane/street closures mainly for pole installations so we can perform the work safely. There may also be momentary sidewalk or driveway closures so we can perform the work safely. If a driveway or parking lot needs to be blocked for an extended amount of time, we will coordinate in advance with the residential or commercial customer. We will have police officers with our crews every day for the duration of the project and they will work with our crews to coordinate traffic flow. PSE&G works with the local Police Department to review our traffic control plan to maintain the safety of the general public as well as our crews.