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BYRON (June 21, 2022) – In June, ComEd brought in the big equipment to Spoor Island, located in the Rock River near Byron, IL, to complete work to improve reliability on the island. Because there are no vehicle-accessible roads on the island, ComEd used boats and helicopters to transport and install equipment to improve reliability to customers on the island. ComEd crews replaced five poles and upgraded a transformer, while also removing trees that could possibly interfere with reliability on the island.

Over five-and-a-half hours, ComEd crews worked in unusual conditions. While some traveled by boat from shore to the island, others were airlifted, or longlined to the site. Helicopters lifted and placed poles around the island.

"Because of the unique accessibility issues on Spoor Island, we developed a plan that would meet the needs of the work and our customers," said Valerie Colletti, vice president of Distribution Operations for ComEd. "We've used helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and drones at various times throughout our territory. We will take whatever step is necessary to ensure we are delivering reliable energy to our customers."

In the first three months of 2022, ComEd delivered its most reliable electric service on record for any first quarter in the company's more than century-long history. Reliability is measured by how often customers experience power outages and how long power outages last when they do occur.

ComEd's first quarter performance came on the heels of 2021, when the company also delivered some of its highest levels of year-over-year reliability for the more than 9 million people it serves, owing to power grid investments and innovations, storm hardening and vegetation management solutions, and cable replacement.

Overall reliability last year was 68 percent better than when ComEd began grid improvements in 2011. Since then, ComEd and its more than 6,200 employees have avoided more than 17 million outages for customers, saving more than $3 billion in outage costs.

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