Zurich, Switzerland, September 12, 2014 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth over $30 million from Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) to supply gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) for substations to boost the reliability of transmission infrastructure in New Jersey.

ABB’s order includes design, supply and commissioning of ABB’s 550 kilovolt (kV) GIS type ELK-3, a compact and modular solution that offers increased reliability and safety.

PSE&G is spending $4 billion between 2014 and 2016 to upgrade its electricity infrastructure to meet demand for electricity that per person has more than doubled since the 1970s. Upgrading the grid is a necessity in a populated area like New Jersey that is focusing on strengthening infrastructure for the state’s expanding high-tech economy.

“ABB has supplied GIS to several PSE&G projects and we are delighted to work with them once again,” said Bernhard Jucker, head of ABB’s Power Products division.”Our compact GIS technology will help strengthen the transmission network in the region and facilitate reliable supply of electricity to residential and commercial customers.”

In a power system, switchgear controls, protects and isolates electrical equipment to boost the reliability of power supply.With GIS technology, key components including breakers, switches, contacts and conductors are protected with insulating gas. Compactness, reliability and robustness make it an ideal solution in urban areas and other locations where space is limited or in harsh environmental conditions. 

ABB pioneered high-voltage GIS in the mid-1960s and continues to drive the technology, offering a full range product portfolio with voltage levels from 72.5kV to 1,200kV. As a market leader in high-voltage GIS technology, ABB has a global installed base of more than 23,000 bays.

PSE&G is New Jersey's oldest and largest publicly owned utility, serving nearly three quarters of state’s population across a 4,200 square-kilometer diagonal corridor. As one of the largest combined electric and gas companies in the United States it provides gas to 1.8 million customers and electricity to 2.2 million customers in more than 300 urban, suburban and rural communities, including New Jersey's six largest cities. PSE&G has consistently been ranked among the most reliable electric utilities in the USA. 

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people.