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Posted: 11:05 PM Feb 7, 2012
ComEd Unveils Plan to Reduce Power Outages
After dealing with power outage, after power outage some Rockford families are finally getting answers; ComEd has a plan to keep the lights on.
Reporter: Lauren Kravets |
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2 Comments 
ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- After dealing with power outage, after power outage some Rockford families are finally getting answers; ComEd has a plan to keep the lights on.
ComEd held a meeting at the Salvation Army Temple on Rockford Avenue tonight to inform families of a major upgrade to prevent power outages and it's all starting in a matter of weeks.
Dozens of people came out to listen to details on the plan. It includes upgrading cable, trimming trees around power lines and installing devices that allow electricity to automatically be re-routed when there's an outage, which would reduce the time people are without power.
While many were happy to hear about the plan, one Rockford woman is concerned because she won't immediately see the upgrades in her area and in 2010 she experienced six power outages in just eight months.
"It's very frustrating when you have an ill person or elderly person living with you, we had to relocate to my sister's house for four days at the end of July, not easy," explains Randee Dalzell.
ComEd spokesman Paul Callighan says, "We recognize people want to have their lights on. This new technology allows us to bring in what really is a tree-resistant type of cable that would minimize these outages going forward."
Work on installing that cable in the 10th and 4th wards, as well as areas next to the Chicago Rockford International Airport is expected to begin in a few weeks; other parts of Rockford will come later.
The upgrades will eventually cost residents an additional $3 a month, but that increase will take place over a ten-year period.
The Illinois Commerce Commission is still deciding when exactly ComEd customers will see the first rate hike.
Latest Comments
And if you believe that, I bet they have land in China to sell you.
It is called maintenance. You can only splice the OLDER than Dirt wire together so many times. They get a rate increase to do maintenance just great. What have they been doing with the Customer Charge on your bill for all these years, that was also suppose to give us new meters but my meter is over 30 years old. What was the cause of the outage on Friday? ComED needs to quit having these little 30 seconds burps in service because it is very hard on electric equipment. I hope all of you out there understand with this new rate hike and they installing smart meters so it will be easier to have rolling brown outs during peak hours and not just read the meters from their cars.
