PECO has completed expansion of its Betzwood electric substation in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, and construction of new distribution circuits that serve 3,300 local customers.

PECO said the $7.5 million project added electrical equipment and increased capacity at the substation, located in the Audubon section of the township. It helps PECO to meet increased demand for power and provide better service reliability.

The substation taps off the high-voltage transmission lines nearby and lowers voltage for local distribution. It serves as a hub for the circuits that deliver electricity to customers in the Oaks, Collegeville and Audubon areas. The two additional circuits involved installation of new utility poles, transformers, circuit breakers, switchgear and communication devices.

The project was one of the largest for PECO in Montgomery County this year as part of the company’s overall $394 million capital improvement plan for 2008. Other system improvement projects taking place this year in Montgomery County affect Conshohocken, Whitemarsh, Upper Dublin, Horsham, Upper Moreland, and Plymouth townships and Norristown.

During the second half of the year, PECO also is spending about $1.5 million for line clearance tree trimming in Lower Providence, West Norriton, Upper Merion, and Worcester townships and Norristown. This spending has proven to significantly reduce tree-related outages, particularly during storms.