Com Ed Update
5/16/2012
Schiller Park residents may have seen ComEd trucks and service personnel in the area over the past several weeks. The company has announced significant electric system upgrade projects in the area that began January 23, 2012, In Schiller Park. The upgrades are designed to provide better reliability for Schiller Park residents and businesses.
Work that is occurring in the first half of 2012 includes enhancements designed to improve performance and reduce service interruptions, including installing one distribution automation device in Schiller Park. Distribution automation devices allow the utility to automatically detect issues on the system and re-route power around the problem, often with no noticeable interruption in service. This technology minimizes the number of customers affected by an outage by isolating the problem area and making automatic, real-time adjustments to the electric grid.
Following the storms of last year, there were areas identified that required work to ensure continued reliability during the upcoming storm months. Some of the corrective actions to be completed include installation of wildlife protection devices and installation of fuses. A fuse is used to isolate a fault and minimize the number of customers affected by an interruption.
In addition to the above work, ComEd continues to identify work that will improve reliability performance and reduce customer outages throughout its service territory. The work is part of the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act that was enacted in October by the Illinois General Assembly.
“Grid modernization is a value promise made by ComEd to Illinois consumers,” said Anne Pramaggiore, President and CEO, ComEd. “This work is vitally important to make sure our electric system is able to provide the level of service our customers expect.”
Over the 10-year program, ComEd will invest $2.6 billion to strengthen and modernize its electric system. About half will be spent in reliability-related programs to strengthen the existing power grid serving northern Illinois. This includes replacing underground cable; inspecting, treating and, where necessary, replacing wood poles; and performing storm hardening tasks to further reduce the susceptibility of circuits to storm-related damage.
ComEd will invest another $1.3 billion in Smart Grid-related programs to upgrade and digitize the electric system, including deployment of distribution automation devices that will automatically detect problems on the system and reroute power to help avoid customer outages; and modernizing 10 of its substations to digital technology with real-time equipment monitoring to identify likely failures before they create outages. It will also include the installation of digital meters in every home, which will empower customers with new tools and data to better manage their energy usage. The timing of when digital meters will be installed across Schiller Park hasn’t been determined. ComEd’s plans for digital meter deployment will be reviewed with a Smart Grid Advisory Council appointed by the Governor and General Assembly, and will be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission.