Sunrise & sunset photos accepted from June 20 through July 16

CHICAGO – (June 20, 2021) – ComEd is marking the official first day of summer by inviting shutterbugs of all skill levels to compete for prizes in the Summer Solstice Solar Photo contest. The contest begins on June 20, the day of this year's solstice, which is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, producing the most sunlight of any day in the year. The photo contest runs through July 16.

"In a year when everyone is more eager than ever to welcome the arrival of summer, the photo competition adds to the excitement for anyone who enjoys beautiful sunrises and sunsets, which are some of the best things about summer," said Scott Vogt, vice president of strategy and energy policy, ComEd. "The contest also provides an opportunity for customers to learn more about the benefits of clean, solar energy."

The photo contest will be judged by ComEd's Green Power Connection team, which advises customers on generating their own electricity from solar panels and connecting with the smart grid. Participants with the top four entries will receive an Apple Watch Series 6, while a grand prize winner will receive an Apple Watch Series 6 and a private tour for a group of four at the Adler Planetarium.

The contest is open to residents in the ComEd service territory who are 18 years of age or older. Participants may enter the contest through the contest application on the ComEd Summer Solstice Photo Contest webpage at ComEd.com/SummerSolstice.

Participants can submit their photo into the contest platform between June 20 and July 16, 2021;  

there is a limit of one entry per person. On the contest webpage, participants will find information on the summer solstice and links to solar energy resources, including the solar calculator which estimates the cost of solar projects and associated potential savings.

More than 14,700 private solar systems have been connected to ComEd's smart grid since the start of 2020. The number of community solar subscribers continues to climb with more than 9,700 subscribers across 34 projects in the ComEd zone. Community solar customers subscribe directly with a community solar developer and receive bill credits for their portion of the electricity generated by the project. ComEd expects to connect more than 70 active community solar projects to its grid by the end of this year.