COLLINSVILLE, Ill.,
April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren
Illinois announced that it exceeded its yearly reliability
performance goals required by the state's Energy Infrastructure
Modernization Act (EIMA).
"Customers are beginning to experience the benefits of a
long-term approach for upgrading the state's electric delivery
infrastructure," said Richard Mark,
President and CEO of Ameren Illinois. "We are keeping pace with
needed investments in a vast system that serves 1.2 million homes
and businesses in central and southern Illinois."
In 2012, the company embarked on an ambitious plan to invest
billions of dollars in improving electric service reliability.
Since then, implementation of advanced technology such as
intelligent switches and smart sensors is increasing electric
system performance throughout the Ameren Illinois territory. Ameren
Illinois is hardening its system by installing larger poles that
can withstand stronger storms, installing smart sensors and
switches to reduce outages, resizing transformers to meet future
capacity needs for customers and constructing new overhead and
underground lines. These upgrades resulted in a 20% average
improvement in system reliability compared to the average
reliability from 2001 to 2010. Using the U.S. Department of
Energy's Interruption Cost Estimate Calculator (ICE), the
improvements have saved residential and small commercial customers
an estimated $57 million a year since
2012.
"We're making strategic investments to modernize our
infrastructure while managing costs," said Ron Pate, senior vice president of operations.
"This is a long term process, but we have been able to deliver
results to customers while keeping their rates reasonable."
Investments in modernizing the grid are also generating new
jobs. Since January 3, 2012,
Ameren Illinois has added 250 employees, and an additional 1,000
contract workers have been deployed to work on Ameren Illinois
projects. The added wages and benefits are providing a needed boost
to economies in downstate Illinois.
"We're looking to strengthen our team to help us build the next
generation energy delivery system," added Mark.
The company also plans to install new meters at customer
locations beginning in the summer of 2014. Over time these upgrades
will improve service reliability by helping Ameren Illinois detect
and isolate outages faster. Customers will also have more
information and new tools and programs to better manage energy
costs.
Additional information about the Ameren Illinois infrastructure
upgrade plan is available at AmerenIllinois.com/focus.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy
to 1.2 million electric and 767,000 natural gas customers in
downstate Illinois, and our
mission is to power the quality of life. Our service territory
covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For
more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on
Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook.
SOURCE Ameren Illinois