Ameren Illinois Adding Technology To Enhance Reliability In Alton; Relocating Poles In Godfrey
New switching technology added in several neighborhoods.
ALTON – Ameren Illinois is taking another step forward in its modernization of the electric grid in Alton with the installation of new smart switches and stronger electric infrastructure in town.
Work is currently underway to upgrade power lines between the Alby and North Alton substations, which will add capacity to the local grid for nearly 1,300 customers. The added capacity is similar to expanding a two-lane highway to a four-lane highway. In addition, three IntelliRupters, also known as smart switches, are being added. These devices work in tandem with other outage detection devices to isolate outages and reduce the length of service disruptions while reducing the number of customers who experience an outage.
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Smart switches are also being added to the electric grid that supports more than 700 residential customers and one commercial customer in downtown Alton.
“The IntelliRupters we are installing in Alton allow us to reroute power when there is a problem and minimize how many customers are affected by the power outage. It is virtually instantaneous,” said Langston Rose, director of Electric Operations for Ameren Illinois serving the Riverbend area. “These upgrades are part of our overall statewide plan to build a more flexible, reliable and resilient grid capable of supporting the delivery of cleaner, greener energy from sources like wind and solar.”
To support the fiber buildout in Alton, crews have been upgrading power poles along College Avenue and along a route supporting the Wedge building on East Broadway. When the project is completed, Ameren Illinois will have changed out more than 200 poles throughout town.
In Godfrey, Ameren Illinois just completed the relocation of 18 power poles to support a new roundabout in town.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us at @AmerenIllinois or Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois.
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