Patch on Politics

ComEd Wants You to Pay More for Electricity You Used Last Year

The utility wants lawmakers to amend a 2011 rate-hike law to allow the utility to retroactively collect money for electricity already used.

 The Illinois Senate Executive Committee unanimously approved a request by ComEd and Ameren to "clarify" a 2011 law that allowed the utilities to raise electricity rates, Illinois Public Radio reports. The clarification would allow the power companies to retroactively charge higher rates for the electricity you've already used, potentially raising up to $70 million for ComEd, according to Sun-Times Media. The 2011 law changed the formula used to determine charges. But the utilities say it didn't work as intended. They say regulators aren't letting them charge what they need. Now the companies are back, asking the legislature to pass another law, clarifying the old one.  (Says) ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore: "Without it we are stalled in these…

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Tom S

9:42 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Under the Smart Grid law passed in 2011, ComEd committed to spend $2.6 billion over 10 years to modernize the electric grid in Northern Illinois. The ICC's interpretation of the law reduced funding to complete the modernization program. As a result, ComEd faced a reduction in funding of nearly $100 million per year in 2014 and beyond. Without the additional funding, ComEd stated it could not …   more ›

'Impact Parties' Teach Energy Efficiency for the Home

"Impact Parties" show residents how to save money and specific ways to operate a more energy efficient home.

There are jewelry parties, purse parties, "sell your gold" parties and now: "impact parties." Wheaton residents can host impact parties through Energy Impact Illinois, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, ComEd and Nicor, to learn how their homes can be more energy efficient and how to save money, according to the City of Wheaton. At each party, an energy contractor conducts a brief energy assessment of a home, informs homeowners of where homes lose energy and options to stop that loss, and share the results with guests. The contractors use the latest technology in the building science world, such as blower doors and infrared cameras that take thermal images to make inefficiencies visual for guests. There is also information …

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UPDATED 9:05 AM: Thousands Lose Power After Sunday Storm, Crews Restoring Service

More than 18,000 ComEd customers have no power in Wheaton. Check ComEd's power outage map to track the status of repairs in your neighborhood.

Updated Thursday, 9:04 a.m. According to ComEd, 777 customers in Wheaton are without power. In Winfield, seven customers are without power. In Milton Township, 283 customers do not have power. Updated Tuesday, 8:50 a.m. According to ComEd, 1,932 customers in Wheaton are without power. In Winfield, 534 customers are without power. In Milton Township, 629 customers do not have power. Updated Tuesday, 5:15 p.m. According to ComEd, 2,678 customers in Wheaton are without power. In Winfield, 1,049 customers are without power. In Milton Township, 2,207 customers do not have power. Updated Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. According to ComEd, 3,027 customers in Wheaton are without power. In Winfield, 1,049 customers are without power. In Milton Township, 2,305 …

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New App, Online Map Available to Track ComEd Outages

An interactive map and smart phone app will convey information about outages quicker and better than ever, utility officials say.

As if experiencing a power outage is not frustrating enough, the situation intensifies when you cannot get information about it. ComEd Monday, May 7, announced two new ways in which it is using technology to communicate better and quicker with customers. The first is an interactive online outage map and, the second, a mobile application for smart phones. The interactive outage map is a color-coded map that allows customers to find information about: The outage map can be found under the Customer Service tab at comed.com or at comed.com/map. Using the map, customers can report outages and view all outages in the ComEd service territory. Color-coded icons indicate the number of customers affected by each incident. The map allows customers to…

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ComEd Seeks Rate Hike

The utility will use the new revenues to pay for "smart-grid" costs.

Commonwealth Edison Co. has filed to boost its electricity rates by nearly a dollar per month next year to finance local power-grid improvements it's making under the 2011 “smart grid” law that permitted the utility to hike its charges annually per a set formula, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting. ComEd's rate on an average residential bill will climb 97 cents from today's rates, Crain's reported from an April 30 news release. The Illinois Commerce Commission will review the request under provisions in the new law that sharply curtail regulators' leeway to reject the utility's costs and profit margins. ComEd's delivery rates actually will decline from June though December of 2012 because its authorized return under the law is less than…

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What Energy Goes into Our Homes

U.S. Census figures show homeowners' preferred choices.

In honor of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, observed every April 22, U.S. Census figures look at how we heat and cool our homes. Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. The day came from reaction to a massive oil spill in waters near Santa Barbara, CA, in 1969. Earth Day, always April 22, has developed into Earth Week, April 16-22. Heating with Wood Less than 2 percent—2.2 million—of occupied housing units across the country were heated by wood in 2010. Heated by Solar Energy The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country heated by solar energy in 2010 was 38,010. ‘Cooking’ with Gas About half of all homes in the country—57 million—are estimated number of …

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ComEd Open House Scheduled for Wednesday

Learn about ComEd improvements during event at City Hall from 7-9 p.m.

ComEd and the city will provide an update Wednesday night on work to improve service reliability and upgrade infrastructure. According to the city, staff members have been working with ComEd for a number of months to address specific areas in which residents have experienced repeated power outages. In addition to working to fix problems in these specific areas, ComEd also is starting a number of improvement projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure. Those topics will be discussed during an open house event from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday at City Hall. In October 2011, the Illinois legislature passed the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, commonly known as a “smart grid,” through which ComEd will invest $2.6 billion in its utility grid. …

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ComEd Warns Customers of Impersonation Scams

There are more reported scams this year than all of 2011.

Prompted by a recent upswing in incidents involving scam artists impersonating ComEd workers, the utility is alerting its customers to be wary of gimmicks and schemes that could cost them money and valuable personal information.  “Last year, ComEd received 13 reports of impersonation incidents,” said Kevin Brookins, senior vice president, Strategy and Administration, ComEd. “In just the past two months of this year, we’ve already received 28 reports of customers who have been lured into disclosing credit card information, handing over money to scam artists or allowing an impersonator to enter their homes.” In many of the reported cases, the impersonators identified themselves as a utility employee. Some of the perpetrators wore clothing, …

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Storm-Related Outages 'Completely Restored' in West Suburbs

ComEd representative says storm-related outages in Wheaton have been restored.

Commonwealth Edison officials said Friday power has been completely restored for customer with storm-related power outages in its western region. According to a ComEd representative, 24,000 storm-related outages remain as of Friday morning in the Chicago area with 19,900 in the northern region.  Tuesday's storm caused "extensive damage" requiring a "multiple day" restoration effort from ComEd, according to its website, resulting in halted service for more than 400,000 customers. As of 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, more than 10,000 ComEd customers without power, according to ComEd's outage map.  As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, approximately 268,000 ComEd customers were without power, according to ComEd, which had restored power for approximately 126,000 …

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Restoration Will be a "Multiple Day" Effort, ComEd Says

ComEd is reporting more than 10,000 power outages in its Glenbard region, serving a majority of DuPage County.

As of 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, there are still more than 10,000 ComEd customers without power, according to ComEd's outage map.  Tuesday's storm has caused "extensive damage" requiring a "multiple day" restoration effort from Commonwealth Edison, according to its website.  ComEd is reporting more than 10,000 power outages in its Glenbard region, serving Wheaton and surrounding areas in DuPage County. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, approximately 268,000 ComEd customers were without power, according to ComEd, which has restored power for approximately 126,000 customers since the storm. ComEd reminds customers to never approach a downed power line and to always assume a power line is energized and dangerous. If you see a downed power line, call 1-800-…

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