ComEd Delivers Plan to Reduce Outages

On Monday, ComEd attended its third Highland Park City Council meeting to address reliability issues with a plan to reduce both storm connected and non-weather related outages.

As opposed to previous meetings, ComEd came to Monday's meeting with a solid plan rather than explanations. They also hardly mentioned the smart grid legislation the utility had strongly advocated in the two previous sessions. 

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As it has already promised in other communities, ComEd will use a combination of improved cables, fuses, more comprehensive tree trimming and a new device known as the Hendrix in specific parts of Highland Park that have been designated as pockets experiencing excessive outages during normal weather.

Reducing outages 

The Hendrix is a device that attaches to utility poles instead of the existing wooden crosses to carry the electric cables. It has reduced outages between 80 and 85 percent in some areas where it has been installed  

“It’s a very efficient tool to reduce outages,” ComEd engineer Jack Mertens said Monday.

Though many of the over 30 people who attended Monday's meeting accept the fact storms will knock out power, they expressed anger about restoration delays and outages that occur on clear, sunny windless days. According to Mertens, 43 percent of all power outages in Highland Park this summer were not storm related.

“I don’t have problems with acts of God, I have problems with acts of negligence,” Howard Felix of Highland Park told six representatives of ComEd, Mayor Nancy Rotering and the five members of the City Council in attendance.

Rotering and members of the Council were particularly concerned with the good weather outages, which occurred four time between August 30 and Sept. 1 in areas including downtown Highland Park. 

After Rotering instructed ComEd to return with a plan , the utility conducted a detailed study of its infrastructure in Highland Park. Specific geographic areas of the city were identified and specific plans created for each. 

An undue burden

Rotering was concerned with the people who live in these areas and demanded to know a completion date. 

“This small group of people bear an undue economic, public safety and public health burden,” she said. 

Mertens promised the work would be complete by March 31. Rotering said she would keep a watchful eye on the effort and hold ComEd accountable for its promises. 

“We need to assess the performance of the system to see they follow it through to completion,” Rotering said. “We want ComEd to assure reliable service for our residents.”

The area around Cloverdale Avenue and McCraran Road between Berkeley Avenue and Park Avenue West will receive the Hendrix, trip savers—a device like a fuse in a home used to isolate specific problems according to Mertens—and enhanced tree trimming. 

“We normally trim trees every four years,” Mertens said. “In these areas will look at doing it more often and remove more branches.” 

In the Highlands and other neighborhoods in northern Highland Park around Centennial Park, ComEd will install the Hendrix, trip savers and enhanced fuses according to Mertens. “They’re already installed on Summit Avenue,” he said referring to the Hendrix. 

Enhanced tree trimming and the Hendrix are scheduled to help relieve problems in the southeast part of Highland Park around Sheridan Road and Lakewood Place. The Hendrix will be the remedy for people living in the vicinity of Marion Avenue and Stone Gate Drive. Areas in central Highland Park around Bob-O-Link Road will also have the Hendrix installed. 

Poor communication during poor weather

Rotering, members of the Council and also criticized ComEd for its poor communications with Highland Park’s citizens during the summer storms. 

Executive Tyler Anthony told Monday's gathering an increased effort would be made to improve communication, but offered few details. 

“We’ve made a strong commitment at ComEd to look at communication,” Anthony said. “We know we have to do better.” 

Near the end of the meeting, Councilman Steve Mandel wanted some insurance. He asked ComEd to pay for an independent study to review its proposal. 

“If we hire an independent engineer to review your analysis will you fund it?” 

Mandel asked twice, and both times ComEd Vice President for External Affairs Michael Guerra refused to commit.