ComEd Begins Next Phase of Grid Upgrades in Oak Lawn

ComEd has begun its first phase of infrastructural upgrades to improve electricity reliability in Oak Lawn since the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act or “smart grid bill” was enacted last October.

The electric grid improvements in the Oak Lawn area are “significant” and are said to provide better reliability for area customers. The upgrades are also designed to reduce the duration of power outages.

 “The grid modernization law is a value promise made to Illinois consumers,” ComEd president and CEO Anne Pramaggiore said in a press release. “Our entire organization is now focused on the critical construction programs that willdeliver greater value to our customers through improved reliability and customer service.”

Last December, at a town hall meeting at , ComEd officials told residents that summer infrastructural upgrades in in the village, particularly those that seem to happen for no apparent reason. 

So far in 2012, ComEd has replaced more than 4,000 feet of mainline cable to improve performance and reduce customer service interruptions in the Oak Lawn area, including manhole assessment and refurbishment.

Additional grid modernization work scheduled throughout 2012 in the Oak Lawn area will include:

• ComEd plans to replace or inject more than 2,000 feet of underground residential distribution (URD) cable.  This cable will either be injected to fill in voids in the insulation or replaced where necessary to reduce the number of customer service interruptions due to cable failures.

• ComEd plans to install distribution automation.

Over the next ten years, ComEd plans to invest $2,6 billion to strengthen and digitize the utility system which includes one-third of northern Illinois, including upgrading and replacing equipment and substations, and adding advanced meter technology.