ComEd Upgrading Electric Grid in Libertyville

ComEd is in the process of upgrading Libertyville's electricity infrastructure, with more than 24,000 feet of underground residential distribution cable being replaced or refurbished throughout the village this year.

Matt Bailey, a ComEd spokesman, said a number of areas are being targeted for improvements, including:

• The 1100 and 1200 blocks of Winchester Road, where more than 8,400 feet of underground residential distribution cable will be replaced or refurbished;
• The area of Jeremy Lane and Winchester Road, where more than 3,200 feet of underground residential distribution will be replaced or refurbished;
• The area near Fairlawn Avenue and South Dymond Road, where more than 3,600 of cable will be replaced or refurbished by around June 19;
• And the 700 and 800 blocks of Butterfield Road, where more than 9,600 feet of underground residential distribution cable is expected to be replaced or refurbished by around June 20.

"This cable will either be refurbished or replaced where necessary to reduce the number of customer service interruptions due to cable failures," said Bailey.

Six distribution automation devices — three near Midlothian and Courtland and three near Winchester and Milwaukee Avenue — will be installed. Bailey said these devices are "designed to improve performance and reduce interruptions" by allowing ComEd "to automatically detect issues on the system and reroute power around the problem, often with no noticeable interruption in service."

Nine of these devices have already been installed in town. ComEd already has replaced or refurbished 25,000 feet of underground residential distribution cable throughout Libertyville, along with 1,500 feet of spacer cable, which "helps to reduce the number of customer service interruptions by reinforcing electrical wires to prevent against damage caused by falling limbs," Bailey said.