Rochester Gas and Electric says crews are making progress on circuit upgrades at Substation 43 in Rochester as part of work intended to strengthen reliability and meet growing energy demand.
The utility said the improvements will serve 6,467 residential and commercial customers in parts of Irondequoit and Rochester.
RG&E said the project is replacing aging equipment and increasing system capacity to strengthen the electric system, reduce outage risk and improve response during service interruptions.
"These investments are about strengthening the backbone of our electric system for the communities we serve," said Devansh Sanghvi, senior project manager of RG&E's Integrated Projects. "This will contribute to improving reliability today while ensuring we can meet the growing energy needs of the future."
In the first phase, crews installed two new transformers to increase capacity and improve reliability for customers served by Station 43. The new transformers are operating alongside existing units that have been in service since the 1950s.
RG&E said the older transformers will be retired after the distribution circuit upgrades are complete.
The second phase focuses on upgrading six existing distribution circuits from 4.16 kilovolts to a 12.47 kilovolt system. Crews are installing new equipment and making targeted upgrades throughout the distribution network to support the higher voltage.
The conversion will be completed in phases. RG&E said the first circuit is scheduled to be transferred to the new substation in late 2026, with additional circuits transitioning through 2028.
Each circuit moved to the new substation will reduce the load on aging equipment, increase system capacity and improve reliability for customers, according to the utility.
RG&E said existing infrastructure is being reused where practical to minimize costs while maintaining long-term system performance.
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