ComEd cites major reliability improvements in 2022 compared to pre-smart grid efforts

According to new metrics released by ComEd last week, efforts to improve the power grid in northern Illinois through smart grid technology yielded an 82 percent improvement in overall reliability compared to when improvements began in 2011.

In just over a decade since the company claimed its efforts have helped customers avoid more than 18.8 million outages and avoid more than $3 billion in affiliated costs. This was managed while maintaining average residential rates 21 percent lower than the top 10 U.S. metro areas and commercial rates about 13 percent lower than the top 20 U.S. metro areas.

“It wasn’t that long ago that most ComEd customers expected power outages and considered them commonplace,” Terence Donnelly, ComEd president and COO, said. “Today, the story is very different. Our investments in the grid are paying off as ComEd today offers some of the best reliability in the nation, ensuring ComEd customers have reliable and sustainable power when they need it the most.”

The company noted intentions to continue regional investment as a result of the success, in concert with growing commercial interest and jobs in the region. As for its users, ComEd added that more than 3.6 million of its more than 4 million customers have experienced less than one outage this year so far, on average.

This means that the first three quarters of 2022 brought ComEd its most reliable electric service to date – a statement that encompasses more than a century of work.