ComEd's Smart Ideas® Energy Efficiency Program To Reach $1 Billion in Customer Savings Milestone

ComEd customers looking to reduce their energy use and save money on their electric bill can turn to the electric company’s Smart Ideas program for a variety of energy-saving solutions. Since its launch in 2008, the ComEd Smart Ideas program has helped customers save more than $950 million on their electric bills and reduce energy usage by more than 9.8 million megawatt-hours, enough to power one million homes for a year. By end of 2014, customer savings are expected to reach over one billion dollars.

“We’ve made a commitment to help our customers manage their energy use – a commitment represented by our Smart Ideas program. Our goal is to equip our customers with the right tools and knowledge to help them make smarter energy decisions,” said Val Jensen, senior vice president of Customer Operations, ComEd. “This is a significant milestone for our energy efficiency program, which is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation and we look forward to continuing to grow ComEd’s Smart Ideas and bringing more value to our customers.”

The ComEd Smart Ideas program offers residential and business customers an array of solutions to help them stay environmentally conscious, conserve energy and save money through financial incentives, rebates, online energy management tools, recycling, and more.

Small Business Energy Savings (SBES) - Through SBES, small businesses owners can receive FREE energy assessments of their facilities and instant financial incentives to offset the costs of the recommended energy-efficiency improvements. Since the program’s inception, ComEd has helped more than 10,000 small businesses in its service area reduce their operating costs and enhance efficiencies, including installing water heaters and upgrading lighting systems.

Home Energy Assessments – Through a partnership with the natural gas utility, customers receive FREE installation of energy-saving products such as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), a programmable thermostat, energy-efficient showerheads, hot water pipe insulation, and bathroom and kitchen sink aerators. They will also receive a customized report identifying additional ways to save energy. Renters are also eligible, with permission from their landlord.

Fridge & Freezer Recycling - ComEd will pick up a customer’s old, working refrigerator or freezer for FREE, recycle it in an environmentally responsible way and send customers $35 for participating. In addition to working refrigerators and freezers, customers will also receive $10 for a working room air conditioner when it’s picked up at the same time as a fridge or freezer. Since 2008, ComEd has recycled more than 200,000 units which has kept more than 13,000 tons of metal, 2,500 tons of plastic, and 500 tons of glass out of local landfills and put toward the production of useful products such as laptop computer cases and building supplies.

Home Energy Rebates – In coordination with the local natural gas utilities, ComEd also offers customers rebates for installing qualifying, high-efficiency equipment and services. Customers can receive up to $400 for installing a qualifying central AC unit, up to $400 for attic insulation, and up to $400 for air sealing.

ComEd also offers the following tips to help customers safely prepare their homes for winter weather, manage their energy usage and reduce electricity costs.

• Set your thermostat up to 10 degrees lower during the winter, when you leave your home and before going to sleep. You could save up to 15 percent a year on heating costs.
• Check your HVAC filter every month. 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 incandescent holiday lights with LEDs (lighting emitting diode). LEDs typically consume about 75 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer. They’re also more durable, shock-resistant and generate less heat compared to traditional incandescent light strands.
• Inspect the caulking and weather-stripping around all windows, doors and openings for utility services, replacing as necessary. Also, check ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump, which are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent.

For more information on ComEd Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program, customers can visit ComEd.com/HomeSavings for residential customers and ComEd.com/BizIncentives for business customers, or call 855-IDEAS-00 (855-433-2700).

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 6.6 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 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.