Wheeling, ComEd discuss outage solutions

After facing tough questions from city officials and residents last month, ComEd returned to the Wheeling village board Monday with plans to fix what may have caused the many outages this year.

A combination of tree trimming, replacing old cable and installing a new type of wire, all to be done before the next storm season, will help address outages in several problem areas, said Eric Duray, external affairs manager for ComEd.

Following the contentious meeting in September, ComEd agreed to walk the power lines with residents of Valley Stream Drive, an area of Wheeling where residents said they experienced up to 85 hours of outages. During the walk, Duray said they were able to identify the problem and come up with solutions, one of which includes installing a Hendrix cable.

Hendrix cable has covered conductors and reduces the amount of exposed power lines, minimizing outages when trees lean against the lines in high winds.

“Short of a tree uprooting and falling on the equipment, this will eliminate the problems from trees,” Duray said.

Installing the cable will take four to six weeks, but Duray said ComEd has not yet scheduled when construction will begin.

Before the Hendrix cable is installed, ComEd will also be doing a more intensive, targeted tree trimming program, which some board members were not happy about.

“You can’t cut all the trees down,” said Trustee Kenneth Brady. “Do you have to make the town look ugly to maintain electric service?”

Brady also said he wants Wheeling to instead look into burying cable underground to avoid tree problems.

ComEd will also replace old cable in several areas of the village, Duray said.

Board members and residents said they were glad to see progress, but hope ComEd follows through.

“Kudos to the folks of Valley Stream, you did a great job bringing this to their attention,” said Trustee Dean Argiris of the several residents who organized neighbors, passed out fliers and worked with ComEd over the past few months. “I’m disappointed it took so long, but we’ll see what happens.”