Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After a project in Canandaigua was delayed because of electricity supply shortages, are there worries about the same happening in Buffalo when the state's new all-electric mandate begins?
Builder Phil Nanula has not heard of any restrictions of power that would inhibit a project to go on, but says he's personally working with all utility companies to try and evaluate existing projects to make sure they have to go forward with electrification and put 400 amp services in homes.
"I want to make sure that our existing neighborhoods, the new neighborhoods that we built, have enough electricity to supply those homes, which is virtually double what they were designed for. I'm very concerned that that's going to be an issue," Nanula said in an interview with WBEN.
Nanula says there has already been a little bit of limitation with some of the transformers that are in these developments that are not handling some of the larger services that bigger homes need.
"So if we have to double the amount of amperage that we put into a newly constructed home to become all electric, I am very concerned that we're going to have problems," Nanula explained.
David Bertola of National Grid says the company is in proactive mode when it comes to electrification.
"We are always continually making plans and investments in infrastructure, because we know how electricity demand is always forecast to grow across New York State," Bertola said with WBEN. "We have to assume that low growth is going to occur, and we need to invest in our assets accordingly. Having said that, we never really know when or where a developer may knock on our door, give us a call and say we need to launch a project here."
He recommends developers contact the utility early on in the process.
"That's how we will know if there are capacity issues or if it exists in a specific location," Bertola added.
Bertola says the challenge will be greater as the new electrification rules take effect in January.
"[Buffalo] is served at 4,160 volts, and there are challenges related to how closely homes are together, as an example, how closely buildings are together," he noted. "That's just one thing that we have to account for. But we've also done things where we were able to, in the Larkinville area, bring a higher delivery voltage to that area. And with the expansion of 500 Seneca Street and other buildings, more activity down there, we've been able to bring higher delivery voltage there."
National Grid also cut the ribbon earlier this year on a brand new substation in North Tonawanda.
"Assets were aging. Infrastructure had been like 80 years old, and not only did we replace it, but we made it the latest and greatest, so it could serve at least another 80 years and anticipate for the low growth in that area. We're always trying to stay a step ahead," Bertola said.
He adds balancing improvements with affordability will also become a challenge in 2026.