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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Daryl Devick, Public Works
DATE: April 21, 2016
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Approving and Requiring Commonwealth Edison to Install Underground Improvements along the south side of East New York Street from Eola Road to approximately Asbury Drive In Accordance with Rider LGC as approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission.
PURPOSE:
To require Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) to install underground facilities along the south side of New York Street from Eola Road to the existing ComEd poles approximately 580 feet East of Asbury Drive, which requires allowing ComEd to recover the costs of such project.
BACKGROUND:
When ComEd has to make distribution "improvements", they are required by the ICC to install the least cost option which typically means the installation of overhead lines connected to wooden power poles. If the "improvements" are required in areas where power poles do not exist the permit submittal to the City typically proposes the installation of new power poles. At which point, the City has a one-time opportunity to authorize the installation of underground "improvements" in lieu of overhead and have the rate payers pay the differential cost between the overhead and underground option. This type of issue has come up twice in the last three years. The first occurrence was the Bilter Road corridor from Eola Road to the Illinois Priarie Path. Since the proposed "improvements" directly benefited TIF 8, the City was able to require the undergrounding of the proposed improvements and used TIF funds to pay the differential. The second occurrence is a current request to install poles along the south side of East New York Street from Eola Road to the existing poles located approximately 580 feet east of Asbury Drive. This improvement will improve capacity for a large segment of the City and will not benefit a specific TIF. The attached Resolution would require the installation of underground "improvements" ...
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