Tag: ComEd

ComEd Receives Approval for Beneficial Electrification Plan 2, Continuing to Advance Transportation Electrification in Illinois

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Investment of $168 million over three years will support EV purchases and charging infrastructure advancements

ComEd announced that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, investing approximately $168 million over a three-year period beginning in 2026. The continuation of ComEd’s BE funding marks a significant step forward in ComEd’s commitment to advancing electric vehicle (EV) adoption and reducing emissions in northern Illinois.

Building on its current $231 million investment in beneficial electrification, deployed from 2023 through 2025, ComEd will invest an additional $168 million between 2026-2028 through BE Plan 2 to help residential and non-residential customers transition to and take advantage of electric vehicles.

Since February of 2024, ComEd has incentivized the purchase and installation of nearly 5,000 public and private EV charging ports (Level 2 and Fast Chargers) and the purchase or lease of nearly 1,000 new and pre-owned electric fleet vehicles. More than 70% of the rebates awarded have gone to low-income customers or business and public sector organizations located in, or primarily serving, low-income and Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs). Over this same period, Illinois has seen EV registrations grow three to four times faster than the nation as a whole.

“The shift to EVs is a major milestone on the road to Illinois’ clean energy future, and it is part of a broader effort to electrify more of our region’s energy system,” said Gil C. Quiniones, ComEd President and CEO. “Through the expansion of our Beneficial Electrification programs, ComEd is helping to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enable all communities to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that flow from the global energy transformation.”

The approval of ComEd’s BE Plan 2 follows the successful implementation of ComEd’s first BE Plan, which was approved in 2023 under the guidance of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2021, CEJA aims to combat climate 2

change by leveraging Illinois’ clean electricity grid and promoting beneficial electrification across the state.

“Illinois is committed to decarbonizing the transportation sector, and ComEd’s BE Plan 2 plays a crucial role in enabling more electric vehicle adoption in the state,” said Megha Lakhchaura, State EV Officer of Illinois. “By expanding charging infrastructure and providing incentives from the state and key partners like ComEd, we are making EV adoption more accessible and practical for residents and businesses alike.”

Key components of ComEd’s second Beneficial Electrification Plan include:

Residential EV Charger and Installation Program: $11 million, over three years, to offer rebates of up to $2,500 per household to support the purchase and installation of residential Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.

Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program: $82 million, over three years, to offer rebates for the purchase or lease of new or pre-owned fleet EVs of all weight classes.

Business and Public Sector Make-Ready Program: $44 million, over three years, to offer rebates for covering costs associated with making sites ready for public or private Level 2 of DC Fast Charging equipment.

Customer Education and Awareness Program: $11 million, over three years, to fund multiple efforts to empower and support customers to make informed decisions about vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure deployment. This includes free access to ComEd support tools including Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Toolkits and training programs for municipalities interested in achieving “EV Ready” status, and free Fleet Electrification Assessments, among others.

Research and Development Program: $11 million, over three years, to evaluate and demonstrate the impact of new transportation and electrification technologies.

Portfolio Program: $9 million, over three years, to fund a variety of initiatives spanning across multiple programs, to support a successful deployment of BE Plan 2 as a whole.

Projects located in, or primarily serving, low income or EIECs, will be eligible for higher rebate amounts, and will receive more than 50% of the BE Plan 2 budget. Exact rebate amounts may be adjusted in response to demand over the course of the BE Plan 2 timeline.

EVs provide a variety of benefits for customers. Not only do they offer fuel and maintenance cost savings and performance benefits, but communities can experience broad environmental improvements from reduced tailpipe emissions. Additionally, electrifying transportation—especially vehicle fleets—can create tangible benefits for all communities 3

and families across northern Illinois, including health benefits in communities which have traditionally borne the brunt of climate change and air pollution.

“Reducing vehicle emissions is one of the most effective ways to improve air quality and public health,” said Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at Respiratory Health Association. “Given current uncertainty with other sources of funding that foster zero-emission transportation, ComEd’s continued investment in its Beneficial Electrification Plan is now even more critical in helping cut harmful pollutants, leading to cleaner air and healthier communities across northern Illinois.”

ComEd’s BE Plan 2 was developed in close collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including environmental organizations, community groups and industry experts to ensure equitable access to electrification benefits. The continued efforts in 2026 will build upon the existing resources and tools ComEd has already launched to support customer education and EV adoption including, the ComEd EV Toolkit, EV Ambassador Program, EV Readiness program, EV Load Capacity Map, Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Service Provider Network, EV Dealership Network and more.

For more information on ComEd’s second BE Plan and available resources and programs offered by ComEd, please visit ComEd.com/EV.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers—the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 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, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

Sustainable DuPage Webinar

Charge Up: Preparing Businesses for an Electric World

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A Sustainable DuPage Webinar

This webinar is all about electric vehicles! Learn about evaluating your needs, fleet assessments, and the tools available for business owners considering a move to electric. 

Presenters:

  • Violeta Ryman, Senior Program Manager, ComEd
  • Rahul Chatterjea, Senior Energy Engineer, ComEd

 

To request a copy of this presentation, please contact Choose DuPage.

About the Sustainable DuPage Program Series

Choose DuPage and the DuPage County Environmental Division have partnered to host a series of sustainability-focused events. Made for businesses and communities in the DuPage region, the series covers topics at the intersection of business, life and sustainability.

Learn More About Sustainable DuPage
ComEd

ComEd Announces Elmhurst Substation Expansion Project to Power Regional Economic Growth

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Upgrades support future energy needs and electricity capacity growth for homes and businesses in DuPage County and northern Illinois

ComEd announced the expansion of its 345,000-volt (345 kV) Elmhurst transmission substation, a critical infrastructure investment that will prepare the region for future power needs and increase resiliency of the transmission system. Construction is now underway, with the project expected to be complete by December 2025. Investments to expand the substation will support continued dependability for existing customers and will allow for future capacity upgrades to be made to foster continued economic and business growth for the region.

“ComEd is proud to maintain and grow the most reliable grid in the country, which requires proactive planning to meet the future power needs of our customers,” said Mark Baranek, senior vice president technical services at ComEd. “Investments like the expansion of the Elmhurst substation will ensure the grid is primed to support local business growth for many years to come.”

This substation is one example of how ComEd is taking action to modernize the grid to support increasing demand as a result of the accelerated adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), residential heat pumps and solar deployments in Illinois. Following the upgrades to this substation, ComEd will be able to increase high-voltage transmission capacity in the region as demand continues to grow. 

“Through all areas of its business, ComEd is looking at ways to prepare the grid for the future, and that includes looking at the potential for business growth in our communities,” said Greg Bedalov, president and CEO of Choose DuPage. “The expanded capabilities of this substation will continue to make DuPage County an attractive location for large, commercial and industrial businesses who depend on a reliable and resilient grid to maintain their operations.”

“This investment in critical infrastructure means DuPage County residents can now benefit from the increased resiliency of the transmission system and find their electric power is more reliable, especially during high-use periods and inclement weather. It’s important that these upgrades take place now, while also providing for future enhancements based on the residential and business needs of our community,” said DuPage County Board Chair, Deborah Conroy.

Engineering and design for this $93 million project began in 2023 and construction is currently underway. Construction of this substation is being completed by a diverse, local firm, Ruiz Construction Systems. Customers currently served by this substation will not experience interruptions in power delivery due to construction.

“We are proud to be part of the team advancing technology and connectivity for northern Illinois,” said Gonzalo Ruiz, CEO of Ruiz Construction Systems. “As a long-time partner of ComEd, we are excited to work on another innovative grid project.”

Upgrades from this project will support increased connectivity to neighboring substations in northern Illinois, increasing the overall resiliency of the system. By increasing the number of connective pathways from substation to substation, ComEd is hardening the high-voltage transmission system to perform better during severe weather.

This project builds on ComEd’s commitment to maintaining nation-leading grid reliability. Since beginning its smart grid investments in 2011, ComEd has helped customers avoid more than 22 million outages and save more than $3.8 billion in outage-related costs.

ComEd Announces New EV Rebates for Business and Public Sector Customers; Applications to Open February 15

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ComEd launching $87 million in new rebates to incentivize expansion of electric vehicle charging, bring greater access to zero-emissions vehicles for communities throughout the region

CHICAGO (February 8, 2024) – As part of a larger investment to accelerate an equitable adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in northern Illinois, ComEd is launching two new business and public sector EV rebate programs. New programs will provide a total of $87 million this year to help reduce upfront costs of all-electric commercial and public sector fleet vehicle purchases and incentivize the buildout of more business and public charging across the region.

ComEd today joined a diverse mix of environmental, community, industry, and municipal stakeholders in announcing its newest EV rebates from the annual Chicago Auto Show, held at McCormick Place. The two new EV rebate programs will begin accepting applications on February 15, 2024, with funds awarded on a first come, first served basis. New EV rebates for businesses and public sector customers follows the recent launch of the EV Charger and Installation Rebate Program for residential customers, for which customer can apply for by visiting ComEd.com/Clean.

“Working with our partners in northern Illinois, ComEd is committed to helping customers benefit from zero emissions vehicles, which can significantly reduce pollution and enhance air quality for all residents across our communities,” said Erica Borggren, ComEd Vice President of Customer Solutions. “Through new targeted incentives, we are aiming to accelerate the transition toward all-electric fleets, cars, buses, and trucks, while at the same time catalyzing the buildout of a regional network of public EV charging to serve more customers – a key factor to growing EV adoption equitably.”

New programs launching in 2024 include a total of $87 million for business and public sector EV initiatives. This year, $57 million in rebates will be available for business and public sector EV purchases, and $30 million in rebates are available to support electrical infrastructure “make ready” upgrades needed for the installation of publicly available Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations. Level 2 chargers can charge an EV battery 6 to 8 times faster than charging from a wall outlet, often referred to as a Level 1 charger. Level 3 chargers, often referred to as Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) can charge a typical EV battery in less than one hour.

More than half of all rebate funding is reserved to help boost EV investment in equity-eligible communities, and with higher levels of rebates reserved for customers located in, driving, or doing business in low-income and equity-eligible communities. 2

“Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, the state of Illinois is leading an EV revolution, delivering incentives and enabling significant expansion of our EV charging network so more residents can take advantage of environmental and air quality benefits of zero emissions vehicles,” said Megha Lakhchaura, EV Officer for the state of Illinois. “ComEd’s new EV programs complement state and federal incentives designed to boost EV adoption and charging buildout on a larger scale. This means more school districts, transit agencies, local governments and small and large businesses and their surrounding communities can access the benefits of EVs.”

Specifically, funding amounts and eligibility for the two new ComEd rebate programs for business and public sector customers to support large-scale EV adoption are as follows:

  • A total of $57M is available in 2024 for EV Purchase Rebates
    Rebates between $5,000-$180,000 each, with funding not to exceed the cost of the vehicle. This includes funding for light duty, medium duty, and heavy-duty fleet vehicles, transit buses, and K-12 school buses. The rebate can also be applied retroactively in some cases; ComEd will accept applications for vehicles purchased as far back as June 1, 2023.
  • A total of $30M is available in 2024 for Make-Ready Electrical Infrastructure Rebates
    Rebates of up to $8,000 per Level 2 EV charger plug or port (with a 10-port maximum) or up to $1,000 per kW for infrastructure serving Level 3 chargers with a minimum of 50kW (maximum rebate of $500,000). Rebates can cover project make-ready costs including, but not limited to, contractor labor, conduits, cable, fasteners and breakers. Rebates will not cover the cost of the physical charger. This rebate can also be applied retroactively in some cases; ComEd will accept applications for qualifying projects completed as far back as June 1, 2023.

New investments to accelerate EV adoption in the region complement statewide plans to boost EV adoption in Illinois – a key focus as part of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which sets a goal of putting 1 million EVs on state roads by 2030. EV ownership has increased in recent years, with 80,000 vehicles driving in northern Illinois today, up from just 17,000 in 2019. ComEd programs build on state and federal programs designed to reduce upfront costs to vehicle purchase, and to reduce range anxiety through the expansion of a network of charging serving more communities.

The new rebate programs announced today are geared toward business and public sector customers, including:

  • Those who are considering electrifying their fleet to improve their environmental footprint while reducing their fuel and operating costs.
  • Those who are looking to offer charging access to their customers and communities.

The programs will accept applications from a broad range of business and public sector customers, including small and large businesses, local government, school districts, and transit authorities.

“ComEd’s investments to expand EV adoption will support our regional efforts to address climate change and enhance air quality by reducing tailpipe emissions,” said Kevin Burns, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Chairman of the Executive Board, Environmental Committee and Energy Subcommittee. “New rebate programs from ComEd will 3

complement the work our local governments are doing to develop infrastructure, policy and to lay the framework for an equitable EV future here in northern Illinois.”

“With dangerous air pollution still a regional challenge and with the burdens of asthma weighing more heavily on lower income communities, this new EV program will help reduce air pollution from the largest source in northern Illinois and make owning a clean, zero-emission vehicle more affordable precisely where they can provide the greatest health benefits,” said Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at Respiratory Health Association.

EVs provide numerous benefits for customers. Not only do they offer fuel and maintenance cost savings and performance benefits, but communities can experience broad environmental improvements from reduced tailpipe emissions. Additionally, electrifying transportation—including cars, trucks, school buses and public transit fleets—can create tangible health benefits for all communities and families across northern Illinois, especially communities which have traditionally borne the brunt of climate change and air pollution.

“The Environmental Law & Policy Center is especially encouraged that school districts can get ComEd assistance with electric school buses and charging equipment,” said Susan Mudd, Senior Policy Advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “This is an equity issue as more low-income families rely upon bus transportation to safely get their children to and from school than higher-income families. We know that electric school buses provide a zero-emission ride to and from school, which means children are not exposed to asthma-inducing fumes. The quieter electric buses also mean students arrive at school calmer and more ready to learn.”

“ComEd’s ongoing commitment to advancing electrification is vital for reducing carbon emissions, improving health, and creating financial benefits for all communities in Illinois,” said Nate Baguio, Senior Vice President of Commercial Development at Lion Electric. “As a regional partner of ComEd’s, we recognize the importance of clean energy transportation programs, which are further amplified by state and federal investments such as the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act (REV), Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and EPA Clean School Bus Program.”

“The launch of ComEd’s new EV rebates will make a big difference in helping low-income and environmental justice communities play a direct role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Billy Davis, Co-Founder, General Manager, Jitney EV, LLC. “By reserving half of all funding for equity eligible communities, ComEd is enabling a more just and equitable transition toward EVs and will incentivize more sustainable investment and cleaner air for the communities that need it most.”

ComEd’s new rebates take into consideration the large upfront costs associated with commercial grade electric vehicle purchase. ComEd also intends to work with local auto dealers to establish a process in 2024 that seeks to enable pre-approved rebate vouchers that can be applied at the point of purchase.

“ComEd’s new EV rebate programs mark a significant step in advancing sustainable transportation. Through providing substantial rebates for residential, commercial and public 4

sector charging, and fleet electrification with a focus on addressing financial barriers and communities in northern Illinois most impacted by pollution, ComEd demonstrates its dedication to enhancing accessibility to electric vehicles and beneficial electrification,” said Samantha Bingham, Coordinator of the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation. “The Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation applauds ComEd’s rebate initiative and its broader efforts in advancing energy sustainability in the U.S. by facilitating clean fuel adoption and accessible charging infrastructure.”

New investments to support EV adoption at scale builds on existing ComEd programs to assist customers with electric fleet and charging infrastructure planning. This includes customized fleet assessments, as well as the recent launch of a new ComEd Fleet Toolkit at www.comed.com/EVbiz. The Fleet Toolkit can be used to develop a comprehensive estimate of the cost of converting a fleet, and to determine the optimum rate plan, charging times, and charging equipment for a fleet electrification project of any size. The Toolkit also contains a “EV Load Capacity Map” to help customers plan where to install charging infrastructure, based on estimated available load capacity.

To learn more about how ComEd is helping customers plan their journey to an EV, visit www.comed.com/ev. For more information on eligibility and to apply for new EV rebates on or after February 15th, visit www.comed.com/clean.

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ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 250 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 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, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

ComEd

ComEd Named Most Reliable Electric Utility in America

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In recognition of ComEd’s successful efforts to provide industry- and nation-leading reliability for the more than 9 million people it serves in northern Illinois, PA Consulting, a consultancy that’s bringing ingenuity to life, yesterday awarded the electric company the 2023 ReliabilityOne® Outstanding System Reliability Award, as well as the 2023 ReliabilityOne® Award for Outstanding Reliability Performance in the Midwest Region.

“It wasn’t that long ago that most ComEd customers expected power outages and considered them commonplace,” said ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones. “Over the last decade, however, our investments in grid modernization have resulted in significantly fewer and shorter outages, allowing our customers to benefit from nation-leading reliability. This award is a testament to those smart grid investments, and it’s a credit to the 6,300-plus employees who work around the clock to deliver reliable, resilient power to families and businesses across northern Illinois.”

All utilities operating electric delivery networks in North America are eligible for consideration for the ReliabilityOne® award. PA Consulting selects eight metropolitan service regional awards including Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Plains, Mountains, West, Southeast, and Southwest. The ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award is given to the regional award recipient that has demonstrated sustained leadership, innovation and achievement in the area of electric reliability.

“In the face of increased extreme weather and natural disasters, Illinoisans deserve reliable, uninterrupted service to keep the lights on at home or at work—and that’s exactly what ComEd provides,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Being recognized as the most reliable utility company in America is a well-deserved honor and we are thankful for their continued dedication to the 9 million Illinoisans they serve.”

Investments in the power grid continued to pay reliability dividends for ComEd customers as the electric company delivered record reliability in 2022. Since smart grid investments began, overall reliability has improved more than 80 percent. In that time, ComEd has avoided more than 19 million power outages for customers, saving more than $3.3 billion in outage-related costs. In 2022, 85 percent, or nearly 3.5 million ComEd customers, experienced zero or one interruption in service.

In addition to the reliability awards, ComEd President and COO Terence R. Donnelly will be receiving the Outstanding Contributor to Reliability award. Donnelly has been COO throughout the grid modernization work at ComEd and has led efforts to improve reliability for ComEd customers.

“The complete turnaround of ComEd’s reliability over the past decade and a half has been nothing short of astonishing,” said Donnelly. “Thanks to our prudent investments in grid modernization powered by the most talented employees in the business, outages are the exception, not the expectation. But our work to create a more reliable, resilient power grid is not done, and I look forward to the many customer benefits that will spring from our planned investments and implementation of advanced technologies that will ensure our grid can power a cleaner, more electrified future.”

As extreme weather events, electrification and other ComEd customer needs increase, the need to invest in reliable infrastructure grows. ComEd filed multiyear grid and rate plans that outline grid work required to support the expansion of renewables such as solar and wind power and beneficial electrification for ComEd customers while maintaining and improving the system to continue the level of reliability customers have come to expect. The plans support the goals of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) that Illinois enacted in 2021, including ensuring that under-resourced communities benefit from the clean energy transition.

“Grid sustainability continues to be a major issue that the industry must take more seriously,” said Gregg Edeson and Derek HasBrouck, PA Consulting’s ReliabilityOne® Co-Program Directors. “This year we are celebrating utilities who are providing high levels of reliability and resilience while integrating clean energy assets and greater clean resource diversity into their operations. Congrats to ComEd for their clean energy efforts.”

“We extend our congratulations to ComEd for its recognition in exceptional reliability performance and pioneering grid modernization initiatives,” said Michael Fassnacht, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. “This accomplishment is a testament to the diligent efforts of ComEd’s leadership and workforce, who have made substantial advancements in providing reliable electricity to millions across northern Illinois, a crucial factor in our region’s continued drive for sustainable growth.”

“Power reliability is vital to companies making location decisions, and ComEd’s ability to provide clean, reliable power is essential in bringing economic growth and jobs to Illinois,” said Intersect Illinois CEO Dan Seals. “We commend ComEd on its commitment to grid modernization and reliability, which contributes to Illinois’ position as an attractive place to do business.”

The ReliabilityOne® award is given annually to utilities that have excelled in delivering reliable electric service to their customers. All utilities operating electric delivery networks in North America are eligible for consideration for the ReliabilityOne® award. Selection of provisional recipients is based primarily on system reliability statistics that measure the frequency and duration of customer outages. After provisional recipients are selected, each company undergoes a certification process, which provides an independent review and confirmation of the policies, processes and systems used to collect, analyse, and report a company’s reliability results. This year’s National Award winner was identified for the 23rd Annual ReliabilityOne Awards Program based on its record-setting reliability and innovation in bringing clean energy solutions to customers.

After provisional recipients are selected, each company undergoes a certification process, which provides an independent review and confirmation of the policies, processes and systems used to collect, analyse and report a company’s reliability results.

ComEd

ComEd Economic Development Fact Sheet

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ComEd recently updated 2023 Economic Development Fact Sheet, which highlights ComEd and Illinois’ competitive power advantages, as well as ComEd’s latest programs and incentives designed to help power business growth and allow their customers to meet their sustainability goals.

Key Points

Northern Illinois offers new and existing businesses many strong energy-related assets, including competitive power prices, industry-leading reliability, clean energy options, and more:

  • Competitive Power Prices: In ComEd’s service territory, energy charges remain among the most competitive in the Midwest, and commercial rates are sizably smaller than in other U.S. metro areas. ComEd’s average commercial rates are 20% lower than the utilities that serve the top 20 metropolitan areas in the US and 35% lower for industrial customers based on the most recently available data. Additionally, Illinois’ deregulated/competitive energy market provides long term benefits to businesses by providing the ability to negotiate nearly 60% of their electricity costs from more than75 certified suppliers. 

  • Sustainability & Clean Energy: ComEd’s region is a national leader for clean energy generation. Illinois electricity generation ranks in the top 5 for carbon-free states in the country and the 6th largest for installed wind capacity. Through Illinois’ competitive energy market, customers already have access to 100% renewable and clean power options, while the state transitions to a clean energy future as part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). In addition, ComEd also provides solar and storage rebates for customers and new incentives to support the electrification of the transportation sector to increase societal sustainability. More information available at www.comed.com/customerchoice, www.comed.com/solar and www.comed.com/EV.

  • Industry-Leading Reliability: ComEd offers our customers the most reliable electricity in the nation, due to our ongoing investments to prepare the grid to stand resilient amid increasingly severe weather and changing electricity uses. Investments in the Smart Grid program over the last decade have helped customers avoid 19 million outages, saving more than in $3 billion in outage related costs, including avoided business losses.

  • Additional Considerations: ComEd customers have access to one of the nation’s largest utility energy efficiency programs, with more than $160M in annual incentives available. Since 2008, ComEd customers saved over $8 billion in electricity costs. Earlier this year, ComEd revealed a $231 million investment to help boost electrification, including EVs, over the next three years, which includes new rebates, rates and infrastructure programs designed to help lower upfront cost barriers for commercial customers looking to electrify their fleets. ComEd’s innovative line-extension program (Rider DE), provides large upfront credits that reduce costs of grid expansion work for qualifying new large customers. Lastly, our workforce development programs are building a strong and diverse talent pipeline through education and training for new and highly specialized jobs across key industries, including EV and solar. More info available at www.comed.com/bizincentives and www.comed.com/WFD.

Download the Fact Sheet.

ComEd

Customers Save More than $8 Billion on Energy Bills Through Award-Winning ComEd Energy Efficiency Program

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ComEd offerings ranked first in Midwest by national energy-efficiency research organization

CHICAGO (Aug. 30, 2023) – Since 2008, hundreds of thousands of families and businesses across northern Illinois have saved a total of more than $8 billion on their energy bills by participating in the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program.

The award-winning program, which is funded in compliance with state law, is one of the largest in the nation offering residents, businesses and the public sector a variety of options that help them cut back on their energy use, which reduces energy bills and helps the environment.

In addition to saving customers more than $8 billion on their energy bills, the program also helped customers save approximately 76 million megawatt-hours of electricity, which is enough energy to power more than 8.6 million ComEd customers’ homes for one year. The program has also helped reduce from the air nearly 65 billion pounds of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, which is the equivalent of removing more than 6.3 million cars off the road for one year or planting nearly 35 million acres of trees.

“As ComEd works to provide customers with clean, reliable energy, we’ve also worked over the last decade to control costs and keep rates competitive,” said Erica Borggren, vice president of customer solutions at ComEd. “Part of that effort is through the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, which enables customers to take control of when and how they use electricity to help them manage costs and lower their electric bills.”

In January, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) recognized ComEd’s Multi-Family Energy Savings offering with an Inspiring Efficiency Award. The offering, one of many available through ComEd’s energy-efficiency program, features assessments and free or discounted energy-saving products to help residents and owners of multi-unit dwellings lower their energy use and electric bills. In May, the program also received the highest level of recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award.

“Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in meeting our nation’s energy needs,” said Mike Specian, utilities manager at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and lead author of the recently released Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranked the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program first among Midwest utility programs and fourth nationally. “It lowers customer energy bills, reduces energy burden, improves in-home comfort, enhances resilience, and improves indoor air quality.”

The scorecard evaluated 53 of the largest U.S. electric utilities on their policy and program efforts related to energy efficiency during 2021. The scorecard also looked at how utilities managed customers at risk of having their electric service disconnected, which can severely damage people’s health and well-being by depriving them of safe living temperatures, refrigeration, and the use of medical equipment, as well as evaluated utilities on how they ensure diverse workforces for their efficiency programs.

How customers can benefit from energy-saving programs

ComEd residential customers interested in taking advantage of any of the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program offerings can view a full list of services, incentives and rebates at ComEd.com/HomeSavings. Offerings for business customers are available at ComEd.com/BizSavings.

For customers who want help getting started, ComEd recommends establishing a free, online account at ComEd.com/MyAccount. Once logged in, customers can compare their current bill with last month’s bill and last year’s bill to learn more about their energy use. They can even view their bill forecast to see an estimate of their upcoming bill, so customers can make changes in energy use to manage costs before their next bill. With an online account, customers can also:

  • Click on My Usage and then Tips to find personalized, energy-saving suggestions based on the information provided in their home profile. These tips can help customers find ways to save money and energy, by cost, season, and more.
  • Sign up for free bill notifications, such as High-Usage Alerts that send notifications when energy use is trending higher than usual, and Weekly Usage Reports that summarize your daily use so you can spot trends and adjust usage before your next bill arrives.
  • Access View My Usage to obtain graphs of existing costs and energy-use patterns. In the Neighbors tab, customers get a relative comparison of energy use from about 100 comparable homes within a certain radius. To increase the accuracy of the comparison, customers can go to My Home Profile to add or change details about your home.
Electric Vehicle

ComEd Announces New Programs to Accelerate Adoption of EVs Across Northern Illinois

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$231 million investment to expand electrification includes new EV Charging Delivery Rate option to incentivize charging buildout; Expanded EV training for municipalities adds 15 new communities

ComEd joined with regional and municipal leaders to unveil its latest programs designed to accelerate the adoption of electrified technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs), in northern Illinois. As part of ComEd’s $231 million investment in new customer programs geared toward removing barriers to electrification, ComEd announced a new EV Charging Delivery Rate option to incentivize the buildout of an expanded network of EV charging infrastructure to meet a growing need in the northern Illinois region.

Additionally, ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) announced the expansion of a unique program helping local governments shape plans for EV adoption. The EV Readiness program welcomes 15 new communities to work together to develop policies and programs to safely integrate EVs and EV charging programs in their communities.

Together, ComEd’s investments and partnerships to enable the electrification of transportation, buildings and industry will play a key role in addressing the impacts of climate change and enhancing air quality for all communities and advance the goals of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which sets a goal of putting 1 million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030. 

“ComEd is committed to helping more residential and business customers transition to zero emissions technologies needed to build a cleaner, more resilient future for all,” said ComEd CEO Gil C. Quiniones. “Working in collaboration with state, municipal and regional partners, ComEd is offering new programs to help remove barriers to going electric at home, on the road and at work – with a special focus on underserved communities that have been hit hardest by carbon emissions.”

EVs are on the rise in Illinois, with nearly 70,000 registered with the state today, and more being registered every month. The development of adequate EV charging infrastructure is essential to supporting customers in making the transition to an EV and reducing range anxiety. Thousands more chargers will be needed in the years ahead to support new state goals for expanding EVs, with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimating between 18,000-36,000 additional fast charging stations needed statewide.

NEW COMMERCIAL RATE OPTION

To accelerate investment in charging infrastructure, ComEd is now offering an EV Charging Delivery Rate option. This new rate option is available to all nonresidential customers with EV charging and provides them with a cost-effective alternative to demand-based delivery rates. This will help business customers that are expected to have low charger utilization in the near term as the electrification efforts continue to grow in northern Illinois. All nonresidential customers are eligible, including: public sector, businesses, mass transit agencies, and other commercial categories.

“As we move towards developing a new fueling infrastructure for the state – the utility role will only become more critical. ComEd’s new rate options will complement the state’s investment in charging infrastructure and help create an expansive public charging network in Illinois,” said Megha Lakhchaura, State of Illinois EV Officer. “We hope to see continued initiatives from ComEd that align with the state’s attempts to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and fight climate change.”

“To date, ChargePoint has helped our customers in Illinois deploy thousands of public and private charging stations — and these new programs will allow us to expedite that work in the coming years,” said Matthew Deal, Senior Manager of Regulatory Policy, ChargePoint. “ComEd’s programs will lower the cost of operating EV charging stations while helping finance the actual deployment of this critical infrastructure.”

The transition to electric technologies, including EVs, offers customers a way to lower their carbon footprint while at the same enhancing air quality across our communities. ComEd’s new investments in electrification are projected to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 400,000 metric tons over the life of the plan, the equivalent of the amount of carbon sequestered by approximately 500,000 acres of U.S. forests in one year.

“This plan is clear evidence ComEd listened carefully and got the message loud and clear, communities like ours and towns and villages across Illinois need help if we expect to accelerate the transition to beneficial electrification and meet the state’s climate change goals,” said Billy Davis, Co-Founder, General Manager, JitneyEV, LLC. “These customer-focused programs and incentives go a long way to helping us get there.”

Additional customer programs to incentivize and accelerate the adoption of EVs and other electrified technologies will be rolled out in coming months as part of ComEd’s three-year, $231 million investment. These programs, which include new rebates, make-ready infrastructure support, and pilot studies, are designed to support a transition to cleaner technologies and were informed by feedback gathered last year from hundreds of participants representing communities, health advocacy, industry, local business, school districts and other customer groups across the service region.

“Commercial EV rates and make-ready programs are both market accelerants for transportation electrification,” said Sara Rafalson, SVP of Market Development, Public Policy, and External affairs for EVgo. “Through the Beneficial Electrification Plan, ComEd has laid the foundation to rapidly grow third-party investments in public charging. We look forward to growing our fast charging footprint in ComEd’s service territory over the coming years to serve EV drivers across Chicagoland and Northern Illinois.”

EV READINESS PROGRAM FOR GOVERNMENTS

ComEd and MMC today also announced its continued investment in the EV Readiness program, a collaboration with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, launched to help local governments prepare to meet the growing demand for EVs and EV charging infrastructure. ComEd’s renewed support for the program will also serve a second cohort of communities set to participate in the program, announced today. These include:

  • Batavia
  • Bensenville
  • Berwyn
  • DuPage County
  • Elgin
  • Evanston
  • Hickory Hills
  • Highland Park
  • Montgomery
  • Northbrook
  • Park Forest
  • Peotone
  • River Forest
  • Wilmette
  • Woodstock

“ComEd’s investments in electrification have been essential as community leaders move to reach new climate goals, navigate funding opportunities, and adopt local policies that will make EV integration safe and equitable for the residents and businesses they serve,” said Kevin Burns, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Environment Committee and Energy Subcommittee Chairman. “We are thrilled to welcome a second cohort of communities committed to achieving EV readiness through this program, and thank ComEd for its continued partnership in helping communities meet new demand for EV access, and the environmental benefits that comes with it.”

The EV Readiness program kicked off last year, working with a diverse cohort of 16 communities to support safe and effective plans for regional transportation electrification.  In addition to developing local plans, participation in the program has also helped position communities for competitive funding opportunities designed to support electrification. 

ComEd’s investments to support EV adoption align with its proposals filed with regulators earlier this year to enable the power grid to support the increasing number of EVs and solar resources while ensuring continued resiliency in the face of more severe and frequent weather events. ComEd’s proposed plans will build on ComEd’s record-setting reliability performance, ensuring the benefits of the clean energy transformation in Illinois are shared equitably by ComEd customers, while balancing affordability.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 250 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 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, Instagram and YouTube.

Argonne National Laboratory

New ComEd Substation Brings Science to Life at Argonne National Laboratory

Posted on | by courtney

To provide the reliable energy required to power groundbreaking discoveries in energy, transportation and medical treatments, ComEd has completed a new substation at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory to support the lab’s new Aurora exascale supercomputer—one of the nation’s most advanced computers with the ability to seamlessly integrate data analysis, simulations, modeling and artificial intelligence.

The 138-kilovolt substation is the latest collaboration between ComEd and Argonne to ensure reliable energy for campus’ critical research. This is the third substation ComEd has deployed for Argonne’s Lemont campus.

“At ComEd, we are committed to building the electric infrastructure necessary for the advancement of science and the development of breakthrough technologies,” said Gil Quiniones, ComEd CEO. “Argonne’s work is critical for driving groundbreaking research, and we’re proud to power this innovative technology that holds the promise to change the world.”

Argonne is home to six additional national user facilities used by thousands of scientists from around the world each year. These unique research centers include world-leading computing capabilities and an X-ray microscope that is larger than Wrigley Field and 10 billion times brighter than medical X-rays.

“Argonne’s partnership with ComEd enables our team to use the new Aurora exascale supercomputer to conduct some of the most groundbreaking research in the world to drive innovation and support critical infrastructure,” said Argonne Director Paul Kearns. “Our shared mission will help improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world through our steps to tackle health research and identifying ways to ensure reliable, sustainable energy for our surrounding communities.”

This year, ComEd delivered its most reliable service on record and was recognized for being the most resilient utility in the country. Since starting smart grid investments in 2012, ComEd has avoided more than 19 million customer interruptions due in part to smart grid and system improvements. These investments have helped save customers more than $3.1 billion in avoided outages and many millions more through efficiencies created by technologies like smart meters and distribution automation.

This latest project builds on the strong collaboration between ComEd and Argonne. Earlier this year, ComEd and Argonne released the first phase of a comprehensive Climate Risk and Adaption Study as part of ComEd’s long-term effort to understand the impacts of climate change to the power grid and operations and begin to devise strategies to adapt in northern Illinois. This is the first study of its kind in the region.

ComEd

ComEd Recognized as National Utility Leader in Attracting Jobs, Investment to Region

Posted on | by courtney

 Electric utility ranked among top 1 percent of all American utilities for reliable and clean energy infrastructure 

 ComEd has been recognized again for its leading role in supporting economic growth and job creation across northern Illinois, according to new rankings by Site Selection Magazine, which named ComEd as one of the Top 20 utilities in economic development. Selected from more than 3,300 electric companies across the country, ComEd is among the top 1 percent of all utilities in attracting new businesses, jobs and investments. 

“Companies continue to invest in northern Illinois thanks to the unparalleled access to clean, affordable and reliable power that is essential for meeting the demands of today’s digital economy,” said Gil C. Quinones, CEO of ComEd. “With industry-leading reliability fueled by our investments in grid modernization, ComEd’s service territory is attracting investment from some of the most innovative and exciting industries in the nation. We are committed to continuing the grid investments needed to transition to a clean energy future and power growth of Illinois companies that bring jobs and opportunity into the communities we are proud to serve.” 

This marks the ninth year ComEd has earned the recognition – a testament to the company’s strong record in delivering clean, reliable and affordable power for 9 million people and businesses in the region, including some of the world’s largest companies. Last year alone, ComEd helped launch 16 new commercial projects – with commitments to invest $3 billion locally and create 4,700 new jobs. 

 “Just as utilities’ generation and distribution portfolios turn toward renewables and smart technologies, the economic developers at Top Utilities like ComEd are helping their communities pursue sustainable growth by cultivating the flow of smart capital and talent,” said Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection. 

The magazine attributes ComEd’s investments to enhance grid infrastructure and promote reliable, clean energy service as key factors that are driving jobs and new business to Illinois. This includes: 

Reliability

ComEd has a key role to play in powering business, as it continues to make the investments necessary to enhance resiliency in the face of climate change, improve safety, and achieve new technology needs in an increasingly clean energy economy. These investments are paying off: ComEd’s overall reliability has improved 79 percent since investments began in 2011, avoiding more than 18.6 million customer interruptions and producing more than $3 billion in savings, including avoided business losses. ComEd’s industry-leading reliability performance continues in 2022, with the company providing its highest reliability on record for the first half of the year, and record storm restoration time amid an uptick in severe storms. 

Clean Energy Access

In support of Illinois’ goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050, ComEd is working closely with a growing developer community to increase access to clean and affordable solar energy in the residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. Since the community solar program launched, subscribers have grown substantially – from 700 in 2016 to nearly 30,000 residential customers today. 

ComEd offers C&I customers a Distributed Generation (DG) Rebate of $250 per kilowatt of installed solar energy, which helps offset the out-of-pocket costs of installing a qualified renewable energy generating system. In the past four years, ComEd has provided close to $94 million in DG rebates to expand solar projects in northern Illinois. 

EV Expansion

ComEd has also proposed a Beneficial Electrification (BE) plan which commits $300 million over the next three years to help remove barriers to beneficial technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs). A mix of rebates and programs will help communities and customers advance toward clean transportation goals as outlined by the State of Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) law, which seeks to put 1 million vehicles on the road by 2030. The plan also includes technical assistance for businesses with customized fleet assessments, and a new rate delivery class that would help large business customers offset the upfront costs of installing EV charging infrastructure at scale. 

Affordability

ComEd continues to expand programs that help customers save on energy, while keeping monthly bills among the lowest in the nation. ComEd customer bills today are in line with the past several years, and next year’s average bills are expected to remain below those of the 10 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Recently, ComEd’s energy efficiency program hit a critical milestone, saving northern Illinois communities a total of over $7 billion on their electric bills – including nearly $3 billion in savings for businesses – since 2008. 

Workforce Development

To prepare communities for a clean energy future, ComEd is expanding workforce training programs that prepare more diverse, local workers with clean technology skills. Last year, more than 1,700 local residents participated in job training programs sponsored by ComEd, including programs to prepare residents for overhead electrical, construction and solar careers. These programs have a strong job placement rate, with close to 75 percent or more hired upon completion. 

“Access to reliable, affordable, and increasingly sustainable energy is key to companies making location decisions,” said Intersect Illinois CEO Dan Seals. “We’re pleased to see ComEd recognized for its commitment to economic development in Illinois.” 

“We congratulate ComEd on news that it is recognized as a national leader in economic development by Site Selection Magazine,” said Michael Fassnacht, President & CEO, World Business Chicago, Chief Marketing Officer, City of Chicago. “This recognition is well deserved and testament to ComEd’s long-term commitment to the Chicagoland region, strong performance and innovative energy efficiency programs, all of which are vital to helping local businesses thrive.” 

“ComEd’s track record on reliability, resiliency and affordability has been vital to the growth of our region, and will play a key role in driving economic investment and jobs here for many years to come,” said Will County Center for Economic Development CEO, Doug Pryor. “Businesses know that ComEd provides industry-leading reliability, low and stable pricing, business-focused energy efficiency programs and renewable energy solutions that are critical to businesses aiming for long term sustainability. This provides businesses confidence knowing that when they choose Will County and northern Illinois, they’ll remain competitive in an ever-changing climate.” 

ComEd’s year over year investments in grid modernization continue to drive new business to the area. This includes strong growth by sectors like data centers, logistics and manufacturing, all of which depend on a high volume of clean energy to power local operations and customers served around the world.