Customers encouraged to stay safe and report outages by texting OUT to 26633 (COMED)

CHICAGO (July 28, 2021) – With severe weather forecasted across northern Illinois starting Wednesday evening, ComEd is proactively opening its Emergency Operations Center and getting equipment and additional crews in place to respond to potential power interruptions. Forecasts project possible lightning and wind gusts of up to 50-60 MPH.

ComEd has made resiliency investments in the grid to withstand more frequent storms brought about by climate change. Since it started smart grid investments in 2012, ComEd has avoided more than 16.5 million customer interruptions by using advanced distribution automation or digital "smart switches" to automatically reroute power around potential problem areas. The value of these investments was in full display nearly a year ago when, following a historic derecho that interrupted power to more than 800,000 customers, ComEd safely restored half a million customers in less than a day– the fastest time in ComEd history.

When responding to power outages caused by storms, ComEd's priority is to restore critical facilities such as police and fire stations, nursing homes and hospitals first, followed by restoring areas with the greatest number of customers. The company will further increase its focus on critical care facilities as they are more critical than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public safety is paramount, and ComEd encourages customers to take the following precautions:

• If a downed power line is spotted, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661). Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
• Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is extremely dangerous and energized.
• In the event of an outage, do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power to ask about restoration times. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment, and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous. Additionally, for the safety of themselves and the public, crews are practicing social distancing.

ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information and can follow the company on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComEd. Customers can also call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at ComEd.com/report. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237). 

ComEd's mobile app for iPhone and Android® smart phones gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts; download the app at ComEd.com/app.

ComEd's interactive outage map on its website at ComEd.com/map allows customers to easily find information on the location and size of outages and get estimated power restoration times.