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Central Hudson Conducting Electric Safety Tests
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, in cooperation with the New York State Public Service Commission, is continuing its public safety program of testing electric distribution and transmission facilities. "These tests were also conducted in 2005 and 2006, and all of Central Hudson's facilities were found to be in compliance and within the limits set by the Public Service Commission, " said James P. Lovette, Vice President of Engineering and Environmental Affairs. Under this annual program, poles, guy wires, substation fences, pad-mounted transformers, manholes and pull box covers will be tested for the possibility of low levels of voltage that should not ordinarily be present.
"Although we anticipate that an occurrence of this condition would be rare, locating such `errant' voltages through this test procedure allows us to identify and correct problems so that we may eliminate any potential safety hazard to the public," said Lovette.
The tests are being contracted through Lewis Tree Service of Rochester, and both Precision Pipeline Solutions and Wagner Technical Services of Newburgh. Representatives of Kinetix of Albion, New York, and Central Hudson personnel will audit the tests for quality assurance. Employees of these contractors use marked vehicles and carry identification, and wear orange, reflective vests and hard hats. They will be seen along roadways, in parking lots, fields, residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, community areas - essentially any location with utility poles or other electric facilities - as they perform these test procedures. In some cases, they may be required to walk onto private property to conduct the tests, and will readily provide identification when requested. "We ask all property owners to cooperate with the contractors by allowing them access to Central Hudson's electric facilities," said Lovette.
The tests began in mid-January in the communities of Fishkill, Beacon and Newburgh, and nearly 240,000 Central Hudson facilities throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley will be tested by the end of the year. Testing will also take place on approximately 6,400 facilities, including street and traffic light poles, owned by Mid-Hudson Valley municipalities, counties and state agencies. "We are working with representatives of the region's municipalities and public agencies in testing their facilities," said Lovette.
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