Introduction to Orange and Rockland
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) is an electric and gas utility headquartered in Pearl River, New York. O&R and its subsidiary, Rockland Electric Company, serve approximately 300,000 electric customers in seven counties in New York and northern New Jersey and approximately 130,000 gas customers in New York.
As a subsidiary of Con Edison, O&R and Con Edison share internal resources and services as allowed by law and regulation. As it relates to the Distribution System Implementation Plans (DSIPs), shared services include some functions of planning and forecasting as well as financial services. Additionally, O&R has worked in conjunction with Con Edison in the development of its DSIP and broader approach to Reforming the Energy Vision (REV).
System Overview
O&R’s service territory encompasses a 1,300 square-mile region, principally residential in nature, with a broad base of commercial, industrial, agricultural, and recreational facilities. The area is a growing location for new commercial and industrial activities.
| Customer Type |
Customers |
Load (GWh / MMCF) |
| Electric |
| Residential |
264,000 |
2,550 |
| Commercial / Industrial |
39,000 |
3,050 |
| Total |
303,000 |
5,600 |
| Gas |
| Residential |
125,000 |
15,000 |
| Commercial / Industrial |
12,000 |
6,750 |
| Total |
137,000 |
21,750 |
| Building Stock (# of customers) |
Electric |
Gas |
| Single-Family |
264,000 |
125,000 |
| Multifamily |
26,000 |
8,000 |
| Commercial / Industrial |
13,000 |
4,000 |
| Total |
303,000 |
137,000 |
Energy usage in the O&R territory is forecasted to decrease, and after accounting for DER, peak demand is forecasted to remain flat.
As of January 2021, O&R has installed over 370,000 electric smart meters and gas modules across its New York service territory. The mass deployment of smart meters concluded in October of 2020.
Approach to the Climate Act
O&R’s vision is aligned with Climate Act targets and expects that supporting investments to achieve them will continue by leveraging the DSP capabilities that have been implemented or are in progress. O&R will prioritize grid modernization investments in transmission capacity, multi-value projects, alternative DER solutions, and utility-scale/utility-owned business models at the distribution system level.
Notable initiatives include:
- Launch of a Heating Comparison Calculator which allows residential customers to compare the total cost of clean heat alternatives such as cold climate and geothermal heat pumps
- Innovative Storage Business Model (ISBM) Demonstration to evaluate the range of services BTM batteries can provide across multiple use cases
- Data Platform Pilot, a partnership with NYSERDA and New York Department of Public Staff to inform potential future database platforms and other mechanisms for the provision of system and customer data to third parties
- Innovative EV projects, including Make-Ready Program, workplace charging, ride & drive events, and EV rate design
Achievements and targets include:
