• Posted: September 12, 2024
• better communities, better construction, Community Building, IBEW Local 134, Meade Electric, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, Safety, South Side

When Meade Electric and IBEW Local 134 electricians signed up for “Christmas in April,” an annual event organized by Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, they expected to spend a couple of days making electrical repairs for a homeowner in need. What they didn’t anticipate was that their commitment would extend far beyond a couple of days, evolving into a months-long mission to ensure one Chicago family had safe, reliable power in their home.

The project began routinely enough. Meade Electric, a Powering Chicago member contractor, partnered with Walsh Construction to provide electrical support for a home renovation in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.

“We’ve been in the Chicagoland area for 116 years. This is our home court. As a company, Meade has a social awareness and tries to do the honorable thing and be a good player in the community as much as we can,” John Crilly, Vice President at Meade Electric, said.

The initial work involved replacing outlets, light fixtures, and addressing safety issues on the home’s second floor. However, seven weeks after completing their work, the Meade team received an alarming call: the house had lost all power.

“We sent an electrician out there and identified the service entrance from the utility company – the meter housings – were blown up,” Crilly recounted.

Understanding that the family was without power in the hot Chicago summer, the Meade Electric team didn’t hesitate when faced with this unexpected challenge.

“Everybody gets a unified sense of urgency around getting it solved and helping this family. You can’t have this family in here without power,” Crilly said.

What followed was a challenging, multi-week process involving engineering design, navigating the permitting process, and making extensive repairs. The team installed a brand-new service entrance, riser, meter sockets and grounding– work that would typically cost a homeowner thousands of dollars.

Throughout the ordeal, Meade Electric’s team and the IBEW Local 134 electricians doing the work on-site demonstrated extraordinary dedication.

“You just know it’s the right thing to do. Put yourself in their shoes. What if this was your grandfather without power? That’s kind of how we think about it,” Crilly said.

The project showcased not just the technical expertise of Powering Chicago’s member contractors and IBEW Local 134 electricians but also their problem-solving skills and commitment to community service. From dealing with outdated infrastructure to navigating complex permit processes, the team faced numerous challenges head-on.

“It’s Joel, Sarah, Pat and Dana’s talent that made the difference,” Crilly said, referring to the IBEW Local 134 electricians on the project. “They’re the ones who have to go into the house and assess, ‘What’s going on here?’ And they do it in hard circumstances when there are a lot of unknowns. They still figure stuff out.”

This story exemplifies the spirit of Powering Chicago’s commitment to build better communities, and it demonstrates how the partnership among skilled union electricians, Chicago city electrical inspectors and signatory electrical contractors can make a real difference in people’s lives.

“We’re just trying to help somebody out. That’s it,” as Crilly humbly put it.

It’s a simple statement that belies the complexity of the work performed and the depth of commitment shown by Meade Electric and the IBEW Local 134 electricians.

In the end, this project stands as a testament to the power of community, the importance of skilled trades, and the impact that can be made when people come together to help those in need. It’s an example of how Powering Chicago’s member contractors and IBEW Local 134 electricians are not just building electrical systems but also building stronger, safer communities across Chicago.