City Manager to Present Elmhurst's Case to ComEd, Springfield

Add City Manager Jim Grabowski to the list of soliciting reliability improvements from Commonwealth Edison.

Grabowski will deliver a statement Tuesday during a public hearing hosted by ComEd and the state General Assembly's Public Utilities Committee  at Highland Park Country Club.

"It's necessary for them to know the issues are widespread and not just the North Shore," Grabowski said. "And until they have a meeting down here, I'll drive wherever I need to."

Grabowski will cite a Chicago Sun-Times story reporting that Elmhurst saw averaging 82 minutes in length in 2010, and that's after ComEd excluded 22 "storm days."

Grabowski will also relay a concern that the much-publicized bill on Governor Pat Quinn's desk is off-point.

"When there is a power outage, short or long, restoration is the most important thing, not technology and savings," Grabowski's statement read. "A public utility should serve the public."

Grabowski said the bill should instead focus on tree-trimming, hiring more crews, customer service staff and a better plan for reporting outages.

"Since we all know that storms happen, Commonwealth Edison needs to prepare for them in a more convincing manner," he said. "It is not enough to dismiss ideas as 'too costly to implement' ... given the losses to individuals, businesses and to the overall economy resulting from these incidents."

One alderman who thinks differently is 1st Ward Alderman Paula Pezza, who threw her support behind the General Assembly and the ComEd bill it approved in May.

"While it is by no means an end-all solution, it is definitely a part and a start to a solution," she said.

Pezza arrived at her conclusion after talking with local representatives Chris Nybo (R-41st), Dennis Reboletti (R-46th) and state Sen. John Millner (R-28th), who all supported the bill.

Other Action Monday Night

The City Council also approved a measure expanding the eligibility of the , as well as the shutting down of a water well at 383 Armitage Avenue after learning that radon treatment for the well would cost $2 million.