NYSEG and RG&E’s Energy Control Center Expands to Strengthen Reliability
New distribution room accommodates more operators and supports faster outage response
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — November 13, 2026 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) today announced the companies have expanded their Energy Control Center (ECC), enhancing their ability to safely respond to outages. The facility serves more than 1.9 million customers across the state.
“The Energy Control Center is a critical resource that allows us to safely and effectively respond to outages across the state,” said Tom Donnelly, senior director of the Energy Control Center. “Investments in automation across our system, combined with the expertise of our operators, are giving us more tools to restore service safely and quickly. This year alone, we’ve restored power to more than 160,000 customers in less than five minutes. This expansion will help us continue that important work for our customers.”
The ECC operates the transmission and distribution systems for NYSEG and RG&E. Its operators help manage planned and emergency work by controlling energy flow across thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines. When unexpected outages occur, operators examine conditions on the grid and, when possible, remotely isolate affected portions of the system and reroute electricity to safely restore service.
The ECC also provides line crews with critical information, including incident locations, potential isolating devices and available tie points, helping streamline restoration efforts.
The new distribution room was constructed as NYSEG and RG&E continue to add automation to their electric systems. Over the past three years, the Companies have installed nearly 2,800 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)-enabled devices and reclosers, bringing the total across their service areas to more than 6,100. These devices provide ECC operators with greater visibility and control of the grid, allowing them to remotely respond to changing conditions and, in some cases, restore customers in minutes rather than hours.
"The Energy Control Center’s expansion is an investment in both the electric system and the people who operate it,” said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 10 Business Manager and Financial Secretary Roman Cefali and Dan Curran, business manager, president, and financial secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 36. “Our members bring tremendous knowledge and experience to this facility, and providing them with modern technology and an improved workspace will help them support our members in the field as they respond to outages and maintain the system”
The renovation of the ECC has realigned existing office space to create the new distribution room and accommodate the relocation of two operations groups. The work included the installation and commissioning of mechanical, electrical, data-cabling, fire-protection and plumbing systems. The ECC currently employs 124 people and the new room provides additional space to support the facility’s evolving operational needs.
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Michael Baggerman