After Hurricane Sandy, many gave Consolidated Edison Inc. a failing grade. The utility is looking to change that.
On May 28, the company announced $1 billion on storm protection measures in Westchester County and New York City. Con Edison will invest $475 million in its electric distribution system, hoping to limit the damage from storms and reduce power outages.
More than 1 million customers lost power during Hurricane Sandy, a third of Con Ed”™s customers.
Con Ed also announced it would pursue burying 30 miles of power lines in Westchester in 2015 and 2016, a $200 million project. To bury all of its overhead systems, the utility estimates, would cost $60 billion. Con Ed wants another $300 million to be directed at other storm remediation efforts.
Chris Olert, a spokesman for Con Ed, said the company did not know where in Westchester the power lines might be buried, but company executives are currently talking with municipalities.
He said the project is being funded completely by Con Ed and would be paid for as part of a proposed rate increase. The project must be approved by the state Public Service Commission in conjunction with the rate increase. A ruling is expected by the end of the year.
Olert warned burying power lines is not a simple proposition.
“It”™s not like changing a light bulb,” he said. “Streets will be dug up, there could be traffic tie ups. There will be the potential for inconvenience, though we will attempt to minimize it. Digging up a street means digging up a street. There”™s no pretty way to do it.”
Burying power lines could also cause headaches for municipalities who might have to move water and sewer lines to accommodate the digging.
Despite the potential problems, Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner is in favor of Con Ed burying power lines. Greenburgh was one of the towns hardest hit by Sandy, with more than 9,000 people in unincorporated Greenburgh losing power, some for up two weeks.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Feiner said. “Power outages will be reduced and the time to restore power will be shorter. There will be some inconveniences, but no pain is no gain.”
Feiner said he would lobby to ensure Greenburgh is one of the first towns to get its power lines buried.
