When we crank up heaters, fire up ovens, and turn on taps, we don’t normally consider how the resources powering our lives are delivered to our homes, businesses and institutions – until, of course, something stops working. That’s when we realize what utility providers already know: Assessing, repairing and modernizing the infrastructure responsible for providing electricity, gas and water is absolutely critical to a strong economy, healthy environment, and good quality of life.
As pipes and plants age and as consumers react to economic conditions and environmental concerns, taking care of this infrastructure is no small feat. At All Systems Go: Engineering Sustainable Utility Solutions, the third and final event in Metropolitan Planning Council’s infrastructure roundtable series, executives from ComEd, People’s Gas, and Illinois American Water discussed the challenges of providing high-quality utility services at a reasonable cost to consumers.