Customers can take advantage of energy efficiency offerings to save on cold-weather energy costs

CHICAGO (Nov. 7, 2019) – Whether winter brings ice storms, blizzard or another polar vortex, ComEd has been hard at work to ensure the power grid is ready to reliably meet the energy needs of customers in northern Illinois and Chicago all winter long.

ComEd continued its work to create a smart and resilient grid in 2019, improving reliability for customers and building smart infrastructure for the future. By installing advanced technology – including tree-resistant cables and more than 3,500 smart switches since 2012 that reroute power around problem areas – ComEd has prevented more than 13 million interruptions to customers' service.

"The work we've done to modernize the grid is essential to meeting the increased energy needs of families and businesses during the coldest months of the year," said Terry Donnelly, ComEd president and COO. "At the same time, we want to give our customers the power to save money and energy during the winter season through our energy efficiency program." 

The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program has empowered customers to save more than $4 billion since 2008. For more information on ways customers can save money and energy, visit ComEd.com/WaysToSave.

ComEd also offers no- and low-cost tips to help customers reduce their energy costs:

Adjust the temperature.

• Lower your manual or programmable thermostat 10 degrees during the winter when you leave your home for eight or more hours. You could save 10 percent of heating costs.
• Purchase a smart thermostat that offers even more control over the temperature in your home. Customers can get an instant rebate of $75 if they purchase a qualifying smart thermostat at ComEd's Marketplace.
  
  Check your HVAC filter.

• If the filter looks dirty, change it.  A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm thus wasting energy.
  
  Lower your holiday lighting costs.
• Replace conventional incandescent holiday lights with LEDs (lighting emitting diodes). LED holiday lights typically consume at least 75 percent less energy and can last up to 25 times longer.  They're also more durable and generate less heat compared to traditional incandescent light strands.
  
  Find and seal leaks.
• Inspect and replace the caulking and weather-stripping around all windows and doors.
• Check ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump to make sure there are no leaks, which often is a cause of energy waste.
• ComEd offers rebates for weatherization projects. Go to ComEd.com/Weatherization for more information.
  
  Take advantage of the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program.

• Get a free home energy assessment, receive rebates on qualifying ENERGY STAR® appliances and smart thermostats and save instantly with in-store discounts on LED bulbs.
  
   
  Customers in need of financial assistance can visit the nearest CEDA (Cook County) or LIHEAP (outside of Cook County) agency to apply for assistance. For a list of social service agencies accepting applications, call CEDA at 800-571-2332 or LIHEAP at 877-411-9276, or visit ComEd.com.