Crews are starting work on a $4 million upgrade to a major Rochester substation that powers more than 5,600 customers — a move officials say will help prevent long outages and boost reliability.
Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) announced the project on Monday. The improvements at Substation 42, located on Yarmouth Road, include replacing circuit breakers, steel structures, and outdated electrical equipment originally built in the 1950s.
The substation serves parts of the Winton and Blossom Road commercial districts — areas city leaders say are vital to Rochester’s economy. The upgrades will allow RG&E to respond faster to power outages and reduce the risk of extended disruptions.
“These improvements mean the difference between customers having a few minutes without power, compared to hours,” said Jesus Venegas Salazar, the RG&E project manager.
Mayor Malik Evans and City Council President Miguel Melendez Jr. both praised the project, calling it critical for public safety and the city’s long-term resilience as severe weather becomes more common.
Construction is set to begin this month and continue through 2026. The funding comes from a previously approved rate case, part of RG&E’s broader effort to modernize its aging electric grid across the region.
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