NEWARK, N.J., May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is ready to meet this summer's peak electric demand. The company, which for the sixth consecutive year was recognized as the most reliable electric utility in the Mid-Atlantic region, has made significant investments and upgrades during the past year to keep the lights on and its customers cool.

"We're ready for what summer brings our way," said Ralph LaRossa, PSE&G president and COO. "We have made a number of strategic investments in our electric delivery system to ensure that the infrastructure and facilities can handle demand."

LaRossa stated the PJM power pool has said that PSE&G should receive sufficient power to meet the peak needs of its 2.1 million electric customers. The company anticipates a peak demand of more than 10,760 megawatts.

While PSE&G will be able to handle peak demand, the utility is encouraging its customers to take steps to conserve the use of electricity, not only on steamy summer days but also to help address environmental issues and global warming. Simple actions like switching to energy efficient lighting, turning off electronic devices when not in use, and installing insulation and weather-stripping can result in significant savings over time. The company recommends that customers complete a free online home energy analysis found at www.pseg.com to learn additional ways to conserve energy use as well as to save money.

In 2008 PSE&G will invest a historic $800 million in its delivery infrastructure. Equipment has been replaced, facilities have been upgraded and additional redundancies have been added to guarantee system efficiency. Key investments include:

    -- An $18 million upgrade of a 138,000-volt transmission line to
       230,000-volt operation, as well as the installation of new facilities
       at a switching station and a sub station that will increase area
       capacity and improve reliability for customers in the Bergen County
       area.
    -- A $15 million installation of transformers to relieve possible overload
       conditions and provide additional capacity to customers in the
       Cinnaminson, Moorestown and Levittown areas.
    -- An $11 million project to loop a 138,000-volt circuit into and out of
       Bayway Switching Station in Elizabeth that will increase system
       reliability and provide greater operating flexibility in the Newark and
       Elizabeth area.
    -- A $7 million installation of three new 26,400-volt lines in Bergen
       County that will improve reliability for customers in northeastern
       Bergen County.
    -- A $7 million transformer replacement that will accommodate load growth
       in the Bordentown/ Florence area.
    -- A $4 million substation reinforcement and regional transmission
       expansion project that will better serve electric demand in the
       Hillsborough, Franklin and Somerville area.
    -- Helicopter inspection using infrared technology of the entire 1,164
       miles of overhead transmission lines in addition to rigorous inspection
       of the utility's 210-mile underground transmission system.
    -- Utilization of infrared technology to inspect and maintain more than
       5,000 miles of critical distribution lines.
    -- Reconductoring overhead transmission lines and replacing other
       equipment components that are nearing the end of their reliable service
       lives.
    -- Significant spending on animal proofing in substations. Providing
       protection at the source significantly reduces the number and duration
       of outages caused by animal contacts with equipment in substations.

Electric demand in New Jersey is growing between 1.4 and 1.6 percent annually. In addition to the work we're doing to cover summer critical peak requirements, PSE&G has made, and will continue to make, significant investments in additional local transmission facilities to ensure the utility remains among the most reliable in the nation. For example, the company has begun to upgrade a number of sub-transmission lines to 69,000 volts to improve reliability in the years ahead. A new mobile construction workforce that includes 160 additional union personnel is providing the needed flexibility to deploy construction teams closer to the 69,000-volt projects and other work to maximize job site efficiencies.

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG), a diversified energy company (www.pseg.com).