ComEd's Energy Efficiency Programs Helped Customers Save $400 Million on Electric Bills Over Past Five Years

CHICAGO, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd today announced its energy efficiency programs have saved customers more than $400 million on their electric bills over the past five years. The company recently launched the sixth year of its Smart Ideas^® energy efficiency programs with more than $56 million in incentives to help customers conserve energy and spend less on electricity.

"ComEd is committed to providing our customers with the tools and resources they need to manage their energy budgets," said Val Jensen, senior vice president of Customer Operations, ComEd. "We are dedicated to working with partners across our diverse communities to ensure all of our customers have the opportunity to take advantage of a wide variety of energy-saving programs."

Through ComEd's Smart Ideas energy efficiency programs, residential delivery customers who are also Nicor Gas customers can sign up to receive a home energy assessment, which includes installation of energy-saving products, customized energy-efficiency recommendations and instant rebates of up to $1,250 for completing suggested improvements such as air sealing and insulation.

New this year for small businesses, ComEd will cover up to 75 percent (increased from 50 percent) of recommended energy efficiency upgrades – such as lighting, LED exit signs and energy-efficient water heater installation – offered through its Small Business Energy Savings Program. This program offers small business owners free energy assessments and technical services to help generate savings that go straight to the bottom line. The program will also assign a trained trade ally to help business owners complete the process by providing energy-efficient upgrades from start to finish.

During program year six, ComEd will also continue its Fridge and Freezer Recycle Rewards Program, which offers customers free pick-up of their old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers. ComEd will recycle these units in an environmentally responsible way and send customers a $35 check for participating in the program. Since 2008, this program has kept more than 163,000 inefficient appliances out of local landfills. This represents more than 10,000 tons of metal, more than 2,000 tons of plastic and 400 tons of glass.

The utility will also provide customers with discounts on ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs and fixtures. These bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than traditional standard light bulbs, last about 10 times longer, and each one could save customers up to $69 in energy costs over its lifetime. To receive the discounts, customers can look for the ComEd Smart Ideas "Lower Price" sticker at participating retail stores.

Since the launch of Smart Ideas, ComEd has helped customers achieve more than four million megawatt hours of energy savings. This is equivalent to the energy required to power nearly 425,000 homes for one year.

For more information on ComEd's Smart Ideas energy efficiency programs, a list of participating retail stores, and more tools and tips on how customers can save energy and money, please visit ComEd.com/HomeSavings for residential customers and ComEd.com/BizIncentives for business customers.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 6.6 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

SOURCE ComEd