69-13 Supporting PSEG_s Energy Strong Program.pdf

69-13 April 23, 2013 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has experienced a series of extreme weather events over the last two years, including but not limited to: Hurricane Irene, the October 2011 snowstorm, Superstorm Sandy and an accompanying Nor’easter; and WHEREAS, the Township of West Orange (“Township”) was impacted by said extreme weather events, including but not limited to widespread property damage and massive power outages; and WHEREAS, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (“PSE&G”) provides the Township electric and/or gas service; and WHEREAS, said extreme weather events severely damaged PSE&G infrastructure, including but not limited to: flooded electrical substations due to storm surges, downed power lines and poles due to high winds and fallen trees, and the destruction of gas meters due to contact with water; and WHEREAS, said damages to PSE&G infrastructure contributed to the Township’s said impacts; and WHEREAS, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“BPU”) issued an order on January 23, 2013 directing the State’s electric and gas utilities, including PSE&G, to implement certain recommendations in the areas of: “Preparedness efforts”, “Communications”, “Restoration and response”, “Post event”, and “Underlying infrastructure issues”; and WHEREAS, PSE&G submitted an infrastructure filing on February 20, 2013 entitled “Energy Strong”; and WHEREAS, “Energy Strong” proposes an investment of $3.9B worth of infrastructure projects over a 10-year period to enhance PSE&G’s electrical and gas system, including but not limited to: fortifying electrical stations, replacing and modernizing cast iron gas mains, deploying smart grid technologies, improving pole distribution systems, creating more redundancies,

undergrounding of electricity lines, and protecting gas metering stations; WHEREAS, the Township would benefit from the proposed investments in the “Energy Strong” filing; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township formally declares its support for PSE&G’s “Energy Strong” program. ________________________________ Karen J. Carnevale Victor Cirilo Township Clerk Council President Adopted: April 23, 2013