In 2010 FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) established a "Brightline" Order for reliability standards for electrical transmission systems operating at 100kV and above. New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) is launching multiyear energy grid upgrades, collectively called the Brightline BES (Bulk Electric System) Initiative to ensure compliance with this FERC Order. These upgrades will allow us to meet the reliability and growing needs of our communities and the energy demands of the economy.

New York deserves a reliable, resilient and safe electric system that can support future renewable energy. By investing in electric transmission upgrades today, we strengthen New York and pave the way for a clean energy economy tomorrow. The various upgrades that comprise the Brightline BES Initiative will enable NYSEG to comply with new federal electric transmission reliability requirements. To meet these new requirements, NYSEG performed comprehensive, multi-year transmission planning studies to examine the need for system improvements and identify viable solutions. Through this effort, we identified areas that need upgrades to create a more reliable grid and support the growth of renewable energy.

The Oneonta South Area Improvements Project (the Project) is required to achieve compliance with the Brightline Initiative. The Project will reinforce reliability with the establishment of a second contingency transmission source for NYSEG’s Oneonta South Service Area.

Project Need and Benefits

• The upgraded and expanded facilities will meet the growing demand for additional power in the Fraser/Delhi Region.
• The additional energy transmitted by the Project will encourage and support expanded economic development.
• The upgrades will improve the reliability and resiliency of the entire transmission system, ensuring safe and reliable distribution of power is maintained.

See below for the project scope and phases of the construction process as well as an interactive project map where you can input your address in each phase to see if you are affected.

The following Scope of Work supports the proposed reliability improvements in NYSEG's Oneonta South Service Area in Delaware County, New York. The Project design and construction will be phased as follows:

Phase 1 - Fraser Substation Improvements
Fraser Substation is an existing 345/115kV substation located on Hamden Hill Road near Fraser, New York. A new greenfield -build 115kV yard substation will be constructed north of the existing location supplementing the existing Fraser Substation. Several 115kV circuits will be relocated from NYSEG's Delhi Substation to the new 115kV yard at Fraser Substation as Project Phase 2. Additional reliability modifications and upgrades will be completed within the existing 345kV yard area.

Phase 2 - 115kV Transmission Line Reroutes
The rerouting of five 115kV transmission lines cumulative totaling new reroute line construction of ~4.5 miles in length is necessary to provide connection with the proposed Fraser Substation 115kV yard. The lines will be located parallel to an existing right-of-way (ROW) corridor containing existing New York Power Authority (NYPA) overhead transmission lines for portions of their proposed alignments.

Phase 3 - New 46kV Transmission Line 824 Segment
A new segment of one 46kV transmission line ~3.5 miles in length is necessary between Fraser Substation and existing transmission infrastructure near the Delhi Co-op switch station. This new line segment will be located parallel to an existing ROW corridor containing NYPA and NYSEG overhead transmission lines

Phase 4 - Delhi Substation Improvements
Delhi Substation is an existing 115/46/12kV substation located on Sherwood Road near Delhi, New York. A new greenfield-build 115kV yard substation will be constructed north of NYSEG's existing Fraser Substation and several 115kV circuits will be relocated from the Delhi Substation to the new 115kV yard at Fraser Substation. As a result, minor reliability modifications in addition to decommissioning of the existing 115kV yard will be completed within the existing Delhi Substation.

Phase 5 - New 46kV Transmission Line 841

A proposed ~5.4 miles 46kV transmission line (Line 841) establishment is necessary between the Fraser Substation and the Delhi Substation. This new line will be located parallel to the existing transmission lines, and mostly inside the ROW corridor that currently contains NYPA and NYSEG overhead transmission lines.

Phase 6 - 115kV Transmission Line 916 Segment Rebuild
A ~4 miles segment of existing 115kV transmission line (Line 916) is necessary to be rebuilt between the existing Fraser Substation and the Delhi Substation.

This line segment will be re-established in its existing ROW and will be rebuilt and reconfigured from H-frame structures to steel monopole structures in an effort to reduce the ROW width requirements. This effort will work in parallel with Phase 5 of the Project to reduce the width of cumulative ROW required for Project Phases 5 and 6 which will be established adjacent and contiguous to one another within this common ROW.

NYSEG is committed to working cooperatively with our customers, neighbors, community leaders and regulators as we improve reliability while minimizing disruption to the environment and community. We have a dedicated team of public outreach liaisons who will communicate important news and project information and will be involved throughout the duration of the project to answer any questions. Below are the tentative construction windows being planned for each of the Phases of these Projects.

1) Q4 2021 - Q1 2024
Fraser Substation improvements

2) Q1 2023 - Q4 2023
115kV Transmission Line Reroutes

3) Q1 2024 - Q3 2024
New 46kV Transmission Line 824 Segment

4) Q3 2024 - Q2 2025
Delhi Substation Improvements

5) Q2 2024 - Q4 2024
New 46kV Line 841

6) Q2 2024 - Q4 2024
115kV Line Rebuild Line 916 Segment Rebuild

Updated April 2020

NYSEG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, serves 881,000 electricity customers and 263,000 natural gas customers across more than 40% of upstate New York. Affiliated with Iberdrola SA, AVANGRID owns eight electricity, natural gas or combination utilities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York. The utilities serve 2.2 million electricity customers, 930,000 natural gas customers, and are recognized for safe, reliable energy delivery, excellent customer service, and a commitment to the community and environment.

For more information, visit nyseg.com and avangrid.com