ComEd Announces Energy Conservation Initiatives to Manage Peak Demand

Strategic Insights -

ComEd, a subsidiary of Unicom Corporation, has launched a series of energy conservation initiatives to provide financial incentives to customers and ensure reliable electricity supplies during peak demand days this summer in Illinois. The new programs, created in collaboration with the Illinois Attorney General, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), and other stakeholders, aim to help residential, small business, large commercial, and industrial customers manage their electricity usage during peak hours.

Key Takeaways:

  • ComEd's energy conservation program is expected to invest upwards of $10 million this year, with the goal of achieving energy savings equivalent to the number of megawatts required to power a city of 360,000 households.
  • Residential programs include a dedicated fund that will grow by $1 million for each ComEd-announced "Energy Alert Day," a refund of the monthly customer charge to customers affected by controlled blackouts, and up to $2 million for high-efficiency fluorescent light bulbs.
  • Business incentives include a market-based price of electricity for commercial and industrial customers, interruptible rates for small business customers, and $3 million in reimbursements for the costs of installing high-efficiency lighting retrofits.
  • Governmental customers will also receive new incentives to reduce energy usage during peak periods, including a customer fund that will grow by $50,000 each time the company requests curtailment.
  • ComEd employees will be among the first to implement conservation initiatives, and the company's plants and facilities have been targeted for immediate implementation of energy efficiency programs.

Statistics:

  • ComEd has seeded a dedicated fund with $2 million for residential customers.
  • The company's energy conservation program is expected to invest upwards of $10 million this year.
  • Residential customers will receive a refund of the monthly customer charge, which ranges from $4.13 to $9.36, depending on the type of dwelling.
  • ComEd has committed to $3 million in reimbursements for costs of installing high-efficiency lighting retrofits.
  • The company has established an additional customer fund that will grow by $50,000 each time the company requests curtailment from governmental customers.

Sources:

  • ComEd
  • Illinois Attorney General
  • Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
  • Environmental Law & Policy Center
  • Seiben Energy Associates
  • Public officials throughout ComEd's service territory
  • John W. Rowe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Unicom Corporation and ComEd
  • Jennifer Kennefick, ComEd Public Relations (312-394-3003)