Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd), Illinois largest public utility, is extending its continuing campaign of grid infrastructure improvements to the villages of Hoffman Estates and Wadsworth.
ComEd began a series of infrastructure improvements earlier this year to address reliability problems in its service area that were exposed after heavy storms hit Illinois last summer. The utility has begun replacing cable, updating equipment and trimming trees to reduce the frequency and duration of outages.
In Hoffman Estates, ComEd plans to install over 5,800 feet of new cable in addition to more than 22,000 feet of cable replacement that was already part of the utilitys scheduled maintenance. The new cable includes 1,950 feet of underground cable for general performance improvements, 2,500 feet of mail-line cable to reduce electricity interruptions and 1,400 feet of spacer cables to reinforce wires and prevent outages from falling tree branches. Much of the work is scheduled for the fist six months of 2012.
In Wadsworth, ComEd is replacing 3,200 feet of underground cable. The utility said that the work in Wadsworth will be completed this month.
Sources
ComEd Making Infrastructure Upgrade in Wadsworth, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 20, 2011.
ComEd Plans 2012 Improvements in Hoffman Estates, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 19, 2011.
