PECO files $1.97 B grid reliability plan
Five-year investment programme aims to modernise infrastructure, reduce outages, and prepare Pennsylvania’s grid for extreme weather and clean energy growth.
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USA, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: PECO has filed a $1.97 B Electric Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP) with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, outlining targeted investments to improve electric service reliability between 2026 and 2030.
The Reliability & Resiliency Plan focuses on preventing outages, strengthening infrastructure against extreme weather, and modernising the grid to support renewable energy and electric vehicles. It forms part of PECO’s wider $10 B investment programme for system enhancements and maintenance over the next five years.
The plan highlights four priority areas:
- Storm resilience: $570 M to upgrade equipment in areas prone to repeated storm-related outages, including pole and wire replacements and retirement of older substations.
- Cable replacement: $685 M to replace around 1,000 miles of ageing underground distribution cable to reduce extended outages.
- Substation upgrades: $13 M for proactive replacement of equipment such as switchgear and transformers, and $495 M to retire small, obsolete substations.
- Meter replacement: $206 M to replace 800,000 ageing electric meters, ensuring improved outage detection and remote operations.
Nicole LeVine, PECO’s Senior Vice President and COO said the new plan builds on the results of past infrastructure projects. “With our new plan, we are taking the next step. By modernising our infrastructure and preparing for more extreme weather, we are not only improving reliability today but also building a smarter, stronger grid for the future,” she said.
The company noted that the upgrades will also expand capacity for customer-owned solar systems and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles across Pennsylvania.
Source: Lower Bucks Times
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