Utility companies detail upgrades ahead of summer heat in the Hudson Valley
Orange & Rockland and Con Edison outlined infrastructure improvements made before summer 2026 and this week's forecasted weather.
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Utility companies serving the Hudson Valley say they have made significant upgrades to prepare for this summer’s heat and weather conditions.
At Orange and Rockland Utilities’ Monsey substation, spokesperson Vito Signorile highlighted a new transformer designed to support higher electric demand from the growing population of customers. The project cost about $4.8 million. Signorile said the added equipment is intended to help customers during peak usage months.
“So, by adding a new transformer that can handle additional electrical capacity, we can meet the needs of our customers specifically during the summer months as the use of air conditioning is higher," says Signorile.
Drone video from the utility shows an aerial view of the project, which is one of several included in the $315 million Orange and Rockland invested across its service area ahead of the summer season.
Signorile said the company has also adjusted its operations to make sure crews are ready for any weather‑related outages this week from the heat and potential storms.
“We've postponed all planned work to ensure that all of our crews are ready to respond to heat-related outages. Further, later in the week, there's a possibility of thunderstorms that may impact the area. So, we're preparing crews and additional workers to respond to any outages.”
Other utilities in the region report similar efforts. Con Edison says it has made $3.9 billion in improvements to its service area for summer 2026, including upgrades to overhead lines and new equipment in Westchester County to help limit outages.
Con Edison and Central Hudson are also preparing for the weather ahead this week.
In a statement, Central Hudson wrote, "Supporting customers remains our top priority, so ahead of hot weather, we position crews, strengthen critical infrastructure, and monitor the electric system around the clock to help ensure reliable service for customers."
