ComEd Installs Distribution Automation Devices In Des Plaines

As part of the recently-enacted Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, ComEd has installed six distribution automation devices designed to improve performance and reduce interruptions in/or near Des Plaines. Distribution automation devices allow the utility to automatically detect issues on the system and re-route power around the problem, often with no noticeable interruption in service. According to ComEd,the technology minimizes the number of customers affected by an interruption by isolating the problem area and making automatic, real-time adjustments to the electric grid. The equipment was installed near west Ballard Road, east of Rand Road; Wolf Road and Rand Road; and west Dempster Street and south Mount Prospect Road. In addition, ComEd installed twelve automatic fuse devices to improve service reliability. These devices are used in place of a traditional fuse to minimize the number of interruptions caused by trees, wildlife, lightning, and other weather related outages. Examples of where these were installed are near Millers Road and west Dara James Road; Arnold Court and Kinkaid Court; Crestwood Drive and Prairie Avenue; Dempster Street and Ashland Avenue; Warrington Road and Oakwood Avenue; Warrington Road and Walnut Avenue; and Touhy Avenue and Hickory Street. (pictured left to right) Jeffrey Batara, External Affairs Manager, ComEd, Timothy Oakley, Director of Public Works and Engineering, City of Des Plaines, Jon Duddles, Assistant Director of Public Works and Engineering, City of Des Plaines, Sean Hughes, Project Manager, INTREN, Kevin Rosner, Engineer, ComEd, Jason Schmitt, Project Manager, INTREN, Tom Ringhofer, Senior Project, ComEd and Deborah Ludtke, Senior Engineer, ComEd, discuss the installation of a distribution automation device in a Des Plaines neighborhood.