Pepco issues reliability plan after outages

WASHINGTON

Pepco, the utility company has been criticized for storm-related power outages that sometimes lasted for days in Maryland, has released a plan to improve its reliability.

The utility said the five-year plan, released on Thursday, will cost more than $250 million.

The plan includes more tree trimming to increase space between overhead wires and tree; increased study of electrical distribution lines to determine cause of outages and how to fix them.

The plan also includes replacing underground cable, some of which was installed during the 1970s, and improving substations.

Pepco, a unit of Pepco Holdings Inc., provides service in Washington and Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland.