ComEd Responds to Summer Storm Power Outages

A ComEd official told the  on Monday night the company had responded to a series of violent summer storms by making improvements to Darien’s circuits, and outlined what measures it would take to ease the pain of customers, who saw persistent outages after the foul weather.

Katie Meier, an external affairs representative for the power company, said the summer brought “challenging” storms, including a June 21 tornado and a massive July 11 storm that knocked out power to nearly 900,000 customers, including some of the more than 9,000 customers in Darien. Some of the problems in Darien are the result of problematic substations in other towns, including Willowbrook and Burr Ridge, said Assistant City Administrator Scott Coren.

ComEd toured Darien several weeks ago, Meier said, looking at five areas that were particularly affected over the summer: Peony/Holly/Brookbank, Pine Parkway, Creekside Lane, Aislworth Court/Stewart, and Hawthorne/Stevens.

The company is using several methods to improve the reliability of its circuits, including a process in which a chemical is injected into a cable, expanding into gaps and extending the life of the cable. ComEd also plans “enhanced tree trimming,” in which it would trim trees more often and give branches a berth wider than the eight to 10 feet they have now. (See below for a list of ComEd’s efforts in Darien neighborhoods.)

Maier said tree trimming is performed every four years, but the number of downed branches affecting service in Darien requires more immediate action. The enhanced trimming will address branches hanging over wires, as well as fast-growing trees. She said she expected ComEd to identify problem areas by the end of the year and to complete work by the spring.

Fifth Ward Alderman Joe Marchese complained of inconsistent outages in his neighborhood near Creekside Lane.

“For 20-something years, we had no power outages. Now we have chronic power outages,” he said. “Living across from (neighbors), I have to tell you there are times when we’re out for an hour and they’re out for three days.”

Third Ward Alderman John Poteraske said homes near the Stevens/Hawthorne area are susceptible to outages even in moderate weather.

“If it snows for 35 seconds, they’re out for days,” he said.

Residents in attendance displayed less of the outrage that has been evident at other municipal across the Chicago area, and were docile compared to the heated discussion surrounding the earlier appointment of Police Chief Ernest Brown. Still, they claimed outages are more common since a 2005 substation fire knocked out power to more than 5,000 customers. They also echoed Poteraske’s complaint that power outages occur even when harsh weather isn’t present.

The substation fire cleared the way for a lawsuit, later settled, accusing ComEd of not providing reliable service. The company agreed to update the city’s circuits, and Coren service has been much improved since then.

As a ComEd representative took the names and addresses of residents plagued by outages, Marchese said the company suffers from a problem of perception.

“You people say, ‘Well, it didn’t go out three times in a two-month period.’ To most people, it doesn’t matter if it goes out three times in a two-month period,” he said. “If it goes out one time in a two-month period and you get four inches of water in your basement, that’s all they care about.”

ComEd looked at five Darien areas that have been particularly affected by power outages. Below are the measure ComEd has taken, and what customers can expect to come:

Peony/Holly/Brookbank

Completed:

• Cable injection (300 feet), south of 75th street between Walnut Drive and Sheridan Drive;
• Cable injection (700 feet), south of 75th street between Walnut Drive and Sheridan Drive;
• Cable injection (1,300 feet), south of 75th street between Apple Tree Lane and Cherry Tree Lane.

To come

• Enhanced tree-trimming north of Holly Avenue between Brookbank Road and Crest Road;
• Replace 350 feet of cable west of Madison Street between Plainfield Road and 71st Street, to be completed by the end of the year

Pine Parkway/Hawthorne

Completed:

• Replaced 1,000 feet of cable on Cass Avenue and Hinswood Drive.

To come:

• Enhanced tree-trimming on South Plainfield Road between Pine Parkway and Adams Street.

Creekside Lane

Completed:

• Replaced 1,200 feet of cable south of Plainfield Road between Lakeside Drive and Charles Court;
• Cable injection (3,100 feet) east of Cumnor Avenue between Plainfield Road and 83rd Street;
• Cable injection (930 feet) south of Plainfield Road between Lakeside Drive and Charles Court.

Stewart/Ailsworth

Completed:

• Cable injection (3,500 feet) east of Downers Grove Drive/87th Street between Beller Drive and 87th Street;
• Cable replaced (1,100 feet) north of Beller Drive between Downers Grove/87th Street and Meadow Lane.

Stevens

Completed:

• Cable injection (2,900 feet) east of Carriage Greens Drive between Heather Lane and Coachmans Road.