DeKalb’s business and population growth is bringing in demand for more electricity.

Two weeks ago, to offset the peak demand it usually gets in the summer, Commonwealth Edison installed eight capacitor banks and a new distribution line to help relieve traffic caused from the high demand. Altogether, the project will need about $1.7 million for installation in the DeKalb, Sycamore and Cortland areas, according to a March 3 ComEd press release.

Capacitor banks improve the reliability for electricity. The banks also store an additional 1.3 megawatts of capacity, which will reduce the chance of low-voltage problems, according to the press release.

The capacitors were added to electricity poles.

When electricity is spread throughout homes, those at the end of the distribution line may see a decrease in voltage as the electricity gets to the end of the line, said Jeff Burdick, ComEd senior communications specialist.

The capacitor banks will benefit the consumers at the end of the distribution line the most, Burdick said.

Burdick said consumers will not even notice the changes.

ComEd also installed two miles of new distribution from Exchange Street to Maplewood Drive along Main Street in Sycamore.

The new line will also make electrical service more reliable at peak times of electricity usage.
Burdick said ComEd has done hundreds of new projects for areas that experience larger than normal growth.

“ComEd wants to keep ahead of that growth,” Burdick said.

ComEd covers the entire cost of the installation.

“All customers absorb the already forecasted price in their bills,” Burdick said.

ComEd invests $5 billion in projects similar to the one in DeKalb to alleviate the demand and growth.

“Investing in our system to meet demand in growing communities is crucial to fulfilling our commitment to provide reliable service,” J. Barry Mitchell, ComEd’s president and chief operating officer, said in a press release. “Our customers depend on us to deliver power when they need it most, and this and other projects will help us do just that.”

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