A New York City-based utility on May 23 removed the last of the electric cable laid to meet emergency demand in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. Nine days after the attack, Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc., had completed restoration of service to 98% of the more than 13,000 electric customers cut off by WTC's collapse, laying 36 miles of 13-kv distribution cable in street-level enclosures to connect the devastated area with still-energized parts of its grid (ENR 10/8/01 p. 17).

(Illustration by Guy Lawrence for ENR)

The utility announced plans to enhance its electrical distribution system in New York City and Westchester County at a cost of $533 million this year. An additional $116 million this year will be spent for repairs and enhancements to the electric systems damaged or destroyed in the attack, officials said. Con Ed plans to invest $3.2 billion over the next five years to upgrade its distribution system.

Removal of the emergency cable signals the completion of underground electrical installations necessary to supply summer load in the area, said Louis Rana, vice president of Manhattan electric operations. The electrical reconstruction entailed replacing two destroyed substations, installing 130 miles of new underground cable and constructing 59 manholes.