Puget Sound Energy wishes you a happy new year! We are grateful for you – our customers – and look forward to continuing our partnership on Bainbridge Island in 2023 to implement our unique solutions package to improve electric reliability. In 2022, PSE made important strides toward our goals to maintain the Bainbridge electric system, to plan and construct projects that improve reliability around the Island, and to implement programs and partnerships that encourage energy efficiency.
Here’s a look back at the progress we made over the past year:
- Completed electric distribution system improvement projects like the NE Layfette Avenue Tree Wire and Agate Point Road projects. These projects are designed to improve electric reliability. In one project, we installed coated overhead lines called tree wire which can reduce power outages related to falling tree branches by up to 95%. In another project, we moved a section of overhead line underground to protect the lines from falling branches. To learn more about current projects or recently completed work, visit our website.
- Launched Peak Energy Rewards in November, an energy-efficiency program for customers on Bainbridge Island that uses smart technology to help meet the community’s energy demand and reduce strain on electric system capacity.
- Inventoried trees, wetlands and streams along the new Murden Cove – Winslow 115kV transmission line route to evaluate field conditions and minimize impacts to trees, critical areas and waterways as we continue designing the new transmission line.
- Surveyed additional trees along the existing Winslow Tap transmission line.
In 2023 PSE plans to continue our work towards improving reliability on the island by:
- Continuing field work related to our solutions package.
- Sharing information on the peak shaving battery energy storage system planned for Bainbridge Island as the project progresses.
- Updating aging infrastructure and adding new equipment inside the Port Madison substation. More info to come!
- Continuing permitting and fieldwork for the various distribution reliability projects on the horizon for the island. We will keep customers informed about work coming in their area.