2015 Marks Three Years of Record System Reliability for ComEd Customers

Since 2012, ComEd has been implementing smart grid and other system improvements across its territory to strengthen and modernize the grid – and those investments are paying off for customers with record reliability. In 2015, ComEd customers experienced a 12 percent reduction in the frequency of outages compared to 2014 and nearly 25 percent since investments began. During that same time, the duration of outages has been reduced by 42 percent.

The smart grid law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2011 opened the doors for ComEd to modernize its 100-year old system, improving reliability while enhancing economic development in Illinois and building smart infrastructure for the future.

Advanced technology like smart switches that reroute power around potential problem areas, new storm hardening solutions and cable replacement have contributed to more than 5.9 million avoided customer interruptions since 2012 – resulting in $1.1 billion in societal savings. Additionally, more than 3 million ComEd customers experienced zero or only 1 outage last year.

“Our smart grid work has helped to deliver the best power reliability on record for our customers for the last three years – ranking us in the top 10 percent of utilities nationally and leading our region to economic prowess in the digital economy,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO of ComEd.

ComEd’s grid modernization work resulted in its recent ranking of 2^nd nationally in the 2015 Grid Modernization Index, a national report produced by the GridWise® Alliance and the Smart Grid Policy Center. The report evaluates and ranks states based on their progress in modernizing their electric systems with smart grid technologies, with three key areas assessed: policy, customer engagement and grid operations.

In addition, in 2015, Site Selection Magazine, an industry-leading economic development publication, recognized ComEd as a Top 10 Utility Economic Development Practice, as measured against utilities across the country. In addition to improving reliability, smart grid work has supported 4,800 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Illinois, including approximately 1,800 FTE jobs at the utility and its contractors.

“From reliability to customer options to job creation and growing businesses, our smart grid investments are delivering on the promise of great value for our customers and state,” said Terence R. Donnelly, executive vice-president and chief operating officer for ComEd. “Because of the investments we’ve been making and the partnerships we’ve established, we’ve laid a strong foundation for the future and are meeting our customers’ evolving needs.”

In 2015, focused on expanding the benefits of the Smart Grid Law, ComEd introduced its Future Energy Plan, which will grow energy efficiency programs, increase access to renewable energy sources, and set policy to provide affordability amidst clean energy innovation. This Future Energy Plan legislation also aims to continue the state’s economic development via a boost to the state’s emerging green economy.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 7.8 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.

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