ComEd Helps Customers in Bronzeville Community Save Money and Energy with New Mobile App
Published: August 31, 2018
After helping customers save money by taking control of their energy use for years, ComEd is empowering them to save even more through a new Save and Share™ mobile app. The app allows residents who live in and near Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood to save on energy bills – and give back to their community at the same time. A website version is also available.
Save and Share gives eligible residential customers weekly targets for reducing their energy use based on their historic use and weather forecasts. Energy use is recorded in 30-minute intervals and displayed the next day. Customers can make daily adjustments using energy-saving tips and resources available at their fingertips.
Save and Share keeps customers on track to reach their energy use targets, and links them to relevant ComEd energy efficiency offerings and rewards them with Save and Share dollars if they meet their goals. Customers can then share their Save and Share dollars with participating local non-profit organizations.
“By making smarter energy choices, customers can save money and live better – and we’re developing the creative solutions that empower them to do that,” said Dana Bolton, ComEd vice president of customer solutions. “Our energy efficiency offerings already make it easy for customers to reduce their energy use and expenses. With the addition of our mobile app pilot, customers who call Bronzeville home can make their energy savings work harder for them and help support nonprofits that serve their community.”
ComEd is piloting Save and Share in Bronzeville, the Community of the Future – a collaborative effort of local residents and ComEd to use smart grid technologies to create a connected, green and resilient community and enhance people’s everyday lives. Depending on the success of the one-year program, Save and Share may be introduced to other ComEd residential customers.
“Residents of Bronzeville and other neighborhoods are looking for additional opportunities to make our communities healthier,” said Rev. Brian J. Sauder, executive director of nonprofit Faith in Place, which works to raise awareness of energy efficiency offerings in Bronzeville. “Programs like ComEd’s Save and Share provide us pathways to use less energy, reduce electric bills and give back to our communities, at the same time.”
Save and Share is available to Bronzeville residents who opened their current ComEd account before April 17, 2018, and live in the 60608, 60609, 60615, 60616, 60621, 60637 or 60653 ZIP codes. The app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. The website is ComEd.com/SaveAndShare.
Program Helps Customers in Bronzeville and Beyond Save More
All ComEd customers can save money and energy with the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program. Homeowners and tenants with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for their area qualify as income eligible customers and can take advantage of program offerings specially designed for them. Multi-family building owners and managers with qualifying properties also can start saving with free upgrades for tenant units and common areas.
Income eligible offerings from ComEd include free home energy upgrades, free multi-family energy upgrades, deep discounts for LEDs at local retailers, free energy savings kits at community action agencies and others.
The Future Energy Jobs Act, enacted in Illinois in 2017, significantly expands ComEd’s energy efficiency program, increasing funding from $250 million in 2017 to about $400 million by 2030. This includes approximately $42 million per year from 2018 to 2021 for programs that specifically help income eligible customers reduce their energy use and save money.