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Alternate energy not an option for Winnetka residents
Updated: September 17, 2012 12:28PM
WINNETKA - Winnetka won’t be placing an electricity question on the ballot because aggregation is not an option for residents.
The village owns and operates its own electric system and purchases power wholesale through the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency .
Village officials note Winnetka has benefited from this autonomy as it resulted in more reliable electric service to local customers during the storms of 2011 in comparison to neighboring communities.
With general demand for electricity trending upward, and peak usage during hot weather reaching new highs, Winnetka administrators have started the process of adding a second transformer on the Happ Road site in Northfield where the village constructed a transformer substation in 1996.
Like the current transformer, the new transformer will be connected to ComEd’s transmission system. The transformers lower the voltage for distribution on Winnetka’s electrical system. Cost of the new transformer have been estimated at $2.2 million, to be paid from the utility’s capital fund over four years.
