Reliability Upgrades

As part of our commitment to provide safe, reliable service to all of our customers, Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) is updating electric transmission system in our service areas. While we are investing in upgrades to meet the community's growing energy demands, we are working closely with our neighbors to ensure that all improvements are performed safely and with minimal disruption to the environment and the communities we serve.

Project Purpose and Need            

In 2010 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) established a "Brightline" threshold that redefined Bulk Electric System (BES) transmission elements as those operating at 100-kilovolt (kV) and above. In response, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) updated its reliability standards and issued a "Brightline Order."

To comply with these more stringent reliability standards issued at the federal level and address reliability concerns, RG&E proposes the Monroe County Reliability Project (MCRP). In the MCRP, RG&E proposes to replace its four existing 115kV lines (Lines 947, 946, 945 and 917) that collectively run a distance of approximately 23 miles from Station 418 in the Town of Gates to Station 7 in the Town of Greece, and connecting to: Station 113 in the Town of Ogden; the Spencerport Municipal Electric Substation (SMES) in the Village of Spencerport; Station 70 in the Town of Greece; Station 71 in the Town of Parma; Station 69 in the Town of Greece; and Station 93 in the Town of Greece; all in Monroe County. The Project also includes the reconstruction of segments of lower-voltage lines, each of which is, and will remain after the MCRP, located beneath one of the four 115kV lines on the same structures.

This upgrade will enhance the integrity of the transmission system in your local area while simultaneously addressing reliability concerns. Several contingencies on the current Bulk Electric System result in a configuration where the circuit comprised of the four existing 115kV lines becomes the only supply source and could result in an overload.

Project Scope

The rebuilding of each 115kV transmission line will include reconductoring, replacing all insulators, and replacing existing structures with taller single-circuit structures that would hold the replacement 115kV lines:

• Line 947 is a 115kV electric transmission line between Station 418 in the Town of Gates, Station 113 in the Town of Ogden, the the replacement 115kV lines, and Station 70 in the Town of Greece, a total distance of approximately 12.2 miles
• Line 946 is a 115kV electric transmission line between Station 70 and Station 71 in the Town of Greece, a total distance of approximately 4.1 miles
• Line 945 is a 115kV electric transmission line between Station 71 and Station 69 in the Town of Greece, a total distance of approximately 3.0 miles
• Line 917 is a 115kV electric transmission line between Station 69, Station 93 and Station 7 in the Town of Greece, a total distance of approximately 3.6 miles
• MCRP minimizes land impacts by installing the rebuilt lines along existing electric transmission line rights-of-way
• Public Outreach will be conducted via public information meetings, project Fact Sheets, notifications and website updates
• The rebuilding of the lower-voltage lines will include reconductoring, replacing all insulators, and installing the lines on the new structures supporting the replacement 115kV lines

To view the Monroe County Reliability Project (MCRP) Fact Sheet, click here .

For more information or questions

Please contact the Projects Information Line at 1-888-403-5550 and include the name of the project – MCRP – with your detailed message.  A representative from the project team will return your call within three (3) business days.