ComEd sees growth in its program to electrify low-income homes in Northern Illinois
ComEd reached a milestone in a program that seeks to provide electrification of low-income homes across its service territory in northern Illinois.
So far, 56 single family homes have been retrofitted as part of this $40 million program, called the Whole Home Electrification program. This initiative is designed to convert single family and multi-unit homes to all-electric heating and cooling systems and appliances, with the goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, eliminating carbon emissions, lowering energy use, and increasing savings on energy bills.
In addition to the 56 homes in Chicago that have been electrified, hundreds of additional single family and multi-family units signed up to receive full home retrofits through the program.
“ComEd is committed to ensuring that all customers are able to access the benefits of clean energy technologies, including heat pumps and other home upgrades that can help lower energy usage and overall energy costs,” ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones said. “We’re proud to bring the benefits of home electrification to low-income customers, building on commitment to expanding programs that will enhance air quality for our communities and provide sustainable savings for the customers who need it most.”
The retrofits include new heat pumps, which are essentially two-way air conditioners to provide year round heating and cooling; heat pump water heaters; induction or electric stoves; and electric or heat pump clothes dryers, among other highly efficient electric technologies.
ComEd is working with several partners to deliver the upgrades, including Elevate, Resource Innovations, Franklin Energy, Chicago Bungalow Association and BlocPower.
“Resource Innovations couldn’t be more excited to leverage our extensive experience in clean energy implementation to support ComEd’s Whole Home Electrification Program,” Resource Innovations CEO Lauren Casentini said. “With the power of our diverse network of authorized service providers, we’re making the entire process of home electrification easy to access for the customers that need it the most.”
Each participant is expected to see over $800 in annual savings, on average, from these retrofits, and save 22,000 kWh a year. The latter is the equivalent of conserving over 1,700 gallons of gasoline.
“The benefits of electrification can be incredibly meaningful to someone living in an older home, such as added cooling and lower energy bills,” Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate, said. “Electrifying Chicago’s older building stock can be complex, and it’s been important for us to work in partnership on these projects.”
To be eligible to participate in the Whole Home Electrification program, customers must demonstrate annual income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), as well as other qualifying criteria.
“We’re so grateful to be a part of this program and to be able to offer homeowners increased energy security at a time when everyday living expenses are skyrocketing,” Mary Ellen Guest, executive director of the Chicago Bungalow Association, said. “All of our members live in vintage homes, and many are disproportionately affected by climate change due to limited incomes—this program helps level the playing field and brings tremendous relief.”
ComEd, a unit of Exelon Corporation, serves more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois.