PHILADELPHIA PA – PECO, the Philadelphia-based electric and natural gas utility, said Monday (Oct. 16, 2023) expects to invest $7.8 billion in service upgrades during the next five years. Limerick Township, it added, will be among three Montgomery County municipalities to benefit from the expenditure.
Cheltenham and West Norriton townships are the other two.
The multi-billion dollar expense, PECO said, will be paid in 2023 “to enhance electric service reliability and system resiliency throughout the county.” It includes support “to help prevent customer outages, modernize the electric grid, and reduce the impact of extreme weather on electric infrastructure.”
The Montgomery County investment is measured in multiple millions.
Specifically in Limerick, PECO said it planned to install stronger poles and tree-resistant aerial cable, as well as specialized equipment called reclosers.
Reclosers reportedly can automatically restore service or isolate storm damage. In 2022, PECO said it installed 131 new reclosers, bringing its total to 3,345 system-wide. During the past five years, it noted, these reclosers have avoided about 5.78 million customer power interruptions.
In West Norriton, it would replace poles, and aerial and underground cables; and install manhole covers. In Cheltenham, it intends to install two miles of underground cable to improve reliability for the area.
“We’re prioritizing this strategic investment plan to ensure safe and reliable service,” PECO Vice President of Technical Services Brian Crowe said, “to better withstand extreme weather and pave the way for cleaner energy resources.”
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