ComEd: Power Grid Ready to Serve Customers this Winter

ComEd
Published: December 12, 2018

As temperatures have dipped, ComEd has been hard at work to ensure the power grid is ready to meet the energy needs of customers in northern Illinois and Chicago all winter long.

ComEd continued its work to create an advanced energy delivery system in 2018, improving reliability for customers and building smart infrastructure for the future. By installing advanced technology – including tree-resistant cables and more than 3,000 smart switches that reroute power around problem areas – the energy provider prevented more than 1.1 million interruptions to customers' service in 2018 alone.

"The work we've done to modernize the electric grid is essential to meeting the increased energy needs of families and businesses during the coldest months of the year," said Terence R. Donnelly, president and COO. "We're prepared and want to empower our customers to be ready for the winter season through our energy efficiency program, which has helped them save more than $3.5 billion since 2008."

With those savings, the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program is one of the nation's best-performing efficiency plans. The Future Energy Jobs Act, a bipartisan bill that passed the Illinois General Assembly late in 2016, significantly expands the ComEd energy efficiency offerings to help customers save an additional more than $7 billion and reduce electricity use in Illinois by 21 percent by 2030. For more information on ways customers can save money and energy, visit ComEd.com/WaysToSave.

ComEd also offers no- and low-cost tips to help customers reduce their energy costs:

Lower your manual or programmable thermostat during the winter when you leave your home and before going to sleep. You could save anywhere from 10 to 30 percent a year on heating. Or purchase a smart thermostat that can offer even more control over the climate in your home. ComEd customers can purchase a smart thermostat on ComEd's Marketplace and get an instant rebate of up to $100.
Check your HVAC filter. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm thus wasting energy.
Replace conventional incandescent holiday lights with LEDs (lighting emitting diodes). LED holiday lights typically consume at least 75 percent less energy and can last up to 25 times longer. They're also more durable and generate less heat compared to traditional incandescent light strands.
Inspect and replace the caulking and weather-stripping around all windows and doors. Also, check ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump to make sure there are no leaks, which often is a cause of energy waste. ComEd offers rebates for weatherization projects. Go to ComEd.com/Weatherization for more information.
Take advantage of the home energy savings available through the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program. Get a free home energy assessment; receive rebates on weatherization and qualifying appliances and smart thermostats; and save instantly with in-store discounts on LED bulbs.

Customers in need of financial assistance can visit the nearest CEDA (Cook County) or LIHEAP (suburbs) agency to apply for assistance. For a list of social service agencies accepting applications, call CEDA at 800-571-2332 or LIHEAP at 877-411-9276, or visit ComEd.com.

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Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Keywords: ComEd, energy, energy bill, Energy Efficiency, winter