ComEd submits $1.7B plan to expand energy saving, low-income assistance initiatives

ComEd this week submitted a four-year, $1.7 billion plan to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) that would lead to expansions on several initiatives for energy efficiency among businesses and public sector programs, as well as low-income customer aid.

Based partly on feedback from local stakeholders and incorporating changes enabled by Illinois’ new clean energy law, this update to the company’s energy efficiency plan of 2021 would cover the period through 2025. Among its most notable aspects, the plan would put up nearly three times the required $40 million per year ComEd needed to invest in income-eligible programs.

“ComEd fully supports the clean energy law’s focus on further expanding our work to help low-income customers save energy and lower their bills,” Erica Borggren, vice president of customer solutions at ComEd. “We’re proud to propose, for the first time, to gradually incorporate electrification into our energy efficiency offerings to customers, with a focus on those who need these savings and health benefits the most.”

Specifically, ComEd’s plan would invest:

1. More than $113 million per year for income-eligible programs. Single-family and multifamily upgrades, new affordable housing construction, and more would be included.
2. $10 million per year for income-eligible electrification measures such as heating and cooling, or appliances, to provide home improvements and save customers money.
3. In expansion of business and public sector programs targeting large public customers in specific, as well as private customers who do not opt-out.

Since ComEd first introduced energy efficiency programs in 2008, it reported that customers have saved more than $6 billion on energy bills as a resort.