Combined ComEd-Illinois state Home Weatherization Assistance aid more than 2,000 families

Published on June 28, 2022 by Dave Kovaleski

Since 2018, a partnership joining ComEd’s Home Energy Savings program and the Illinois Department of Commerce’s Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Service (IHWAP) has helped more than 2,000 income-eligible homeowners improve their energy efficiency and save on bills.

In that time, the pair reported last week, more than $13 million in free home retrofit services were doled out based on conditions unique to each home. Some single-family homeowners gained ENERGY STAR-certified light bulbs, while others benefited from updates to insulation, HVAC, water heaters, and more. Last year alone, the benefits averaged more than $800 per participant in IHWAP.

“Our commitment to provide affordable energy has never been more important than now,” Erica Borggren, ComEd’s vice president of customer solutions, said. “Our participation in the statewide weatherization program ensures those in need can better manage their energy bills. Coupled with ComEd’s existing bill-assistance programs, our customers will often find the help they need in catching up with past-due balances and managing energy costs in the future.”

ComEd serves around 10 million customers, 4 million in northern Illinois. Home Energy Savings is part of the company’s larger Energy Efficiency Program. The program provides a range of services for families and businesses to reduce energy use and save money on electric bills, and since 2018, contributes funds to IHWAP. This has allowed a greater number of income-eligible customers to participate in a program that increases access to affordable energy services and initiates upgrades to improve comfort and/or indoor air quality.

Since ComEd began lending its resources to IHWAP, the company reported that nearly 7,000 MW-hours of electricity were saved by customers, a figure equivalent to the power needed for roughly 800 ComEd customers’ homes. Environmentally, the efforts also reduced nearly 6 million pounds of carbon emissions from hitting the atmosphere.