CON ED PROMISES 107 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENTS TO HELP REDUCE POTENTIAL FOR MASSIVE POWER OUTAGES

Con Ed officials attended a meeting I sponsored at the Greenville School in Edgemont with residents who experienced a number of power outages last year. Con Ed promised $107 million in infrastructure enhancements. The company promises proactive measures that could reduce the potential for massive power outages. Infra-red inspections, looking for loose connections, analyzing transformers, replacement of wires, replacing transformer stations, building a new Elmsford substation, underground feeders distribution improvements and tree trimming are just some of the changes promised. Con Ed indicated that last year they hired 1,300 new employees.
The company indicated that a major reason why there were so many power outages last year is because so many trees came down. Many trees were planted in the 1930s--they have a life of about 70 years. Some of the downed trees were rotting. Con Ed feels that its tree trimming program will reduce some of the outages.
Major outage factors in Greenburgh: 53.76% from major storms...1.50% lightning....0.29% csp tripped...1.35%blow fuse...8.47% from animals (squirrels jumping on transformers, as an example)...14.88% trees...1.07% traffic accidents...2.83% feeder...5.92 pole components....0.59% planned outage...9.20% open wire...0.15% OH transformer