Superstorm Sandy: $6 Billion PECO Upgrades In the Works

SOUTHEASTERN PA —Ten years after Hurricane Sandy caused the highest outages ever for PECO, the electric company serving the Philadelphia region is investing $6 billion across its electric and natural gas systems.

PECO experienced 842,950 outages following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and it remains PECO's number one storm in terms of outages, according to Madison Davis, PECO spokesman.

PECO services Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The funds will be used to inspect equipment, complete targeted infrastructure enhancements, corrective maintenance, and invest in new equipment, according to Davis.

The money will also fund the control of unwanted weeds, trees and brush that get in the way of powerlines.

Thomas S. Torresson, president of the Berwyn Fire Company, said Sandy has the worst wind damage of storms in recent memory.

Winds were up to 45 mph, knocking down utility wires and causing small fires throughout Chester County.

Patty Mains, spokeswoman for Chester County Emergency Services, said the county and each municipality have emergency plans for hurricane season.

PECO investment upgrades include a Reliability & Resiliency Plan, which outlines an investment of $1.36 billion on the electric system infrastructure investments through 2025.

“These strategic investments will help to prevent customer outages, modernize the electric grid, and reduce the impact of extreme weather on electric infrastructure,” Davis said.

Since 2017, PECO has installed more than 3,300 reclosers, a device to automatically restore service or isolate storm damage.

These reclosers have avoided approximately 5.5 million customer interruptions.

What’s Ahead

• Exploration of using drones to enable more efficient equipment inspections and faster damage assessments following storms;
• Installing stronger poles and tree-resistant aerial cable, and installing addition reclosers;
• Implementing targeted enhancements in areas that have experienced repeated storm-related power outages;
• Replacing poles, wires, and related aerial equipment to better withstand wind and ice;
• Retiring older substations and redesigning and upgrading the portions of the electric distribution system these facilities serve, which will create a more resilient system in these areas.

To support restoration following severe storm events, PECO is a member of the Southeastern Electric Exchange and North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group.

During major storms, PECO has secured help from other utilities, including our Exelon sister utilities and has sent hundreds of crews across the country for significant storms outside of our region.