August 2021
Member Spotlight
In 2021, SECC will be recognizing a member each month, providing an organizational profile and highlighting the member's accomplishments in the smart energy space.
About ComEd
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, a Fortune 100 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than four million customers across northern Illinois – 70 percent of the state’s population.
Across its 11,400-square-mile territory, ComEd manages more than 90,000 miles of power lines. Since 2001, it has invested more than $5 billion in its electric transmission and distributions system to continue providing customers with safe, reliable electric service.
Customer Driven
Fueled by its commitment to customers, ComEd continues its ongoing priority to improve service and to ensure communities across northern Illinois are prepared to benefit from emerging technology. Their EV Smart program is just one example of this pursuit. At ComEd.com/EV, customers will find a toolkit of information and tips that will empower them to make well-informed decisions about EV ownership and learn more about the positive environmental impact of electrification.
EV Smart
Electric vehicles come in all shape and sizes. They’ve improved greatly since they were first introduced and are gaining popularity. There are new models hitting the market every day, and ComEd’s innovative online EV toolkit helps customers understand what to look for and why owning an EV is the smart transportation choice. As electricity is the fuel for an EV, it is important for drivers to be able to easily find public charging stations when out on the road. One toolkit feature is the interactive map, which allows drivers to enter a ZIP code to locate the nearest public charging station.
For EV fueling at home, ComEd has several rate options for residential customers: Fixed-Price rate (BES), Hourly Pricing rate (BESH) and a Time-of-Day pilot rate (RTOD). In addition, customers can explore supply rate options from electric suppliers other than ComEd. These expanded opportunities may allow customers to save money while shrinking their carbon footprint. Utilizing an interactive display, customers can choose to learn more about different EV models, their estimated prices and performance attributes, and the ComEd residential energy rates that are available.
ComEd also provides a checklist for customers to get their homes EV ready. The checklist explains the two levels of home charging, the vital importance of registering vehicles with ComEd before installing a Level 2 charger, typical charge times, power requirements and any additional required equipment.
To help keep customers informed, ComEd.com/EV also provides essential information such as federal tax credits that may apply, the difference between the three most common types of EVs, the key performance element of range per charge and how an average commute could affect a purchase decision.
Leading the Charge
Because of the positive environmental and health benefits, ComEd is committed to being part of the solution to reduce emissions and clean the air we all breathe. ComEd’s current fleet of 3,000 vehicles includes 1,400 biodiesel-fueled line trucks and another 430 units that can run on high-level ethanol-gasoline blends, or E85. More than 200 of its vehicles have electric hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric systems and another 10 are all-electric vehicles. ComEd plans to electrify 30 percent of its fleet by 2025. This will eliminate 2,000 metric tons of GHG emissions, in addition to the 4,000 metric tons that the ComEd fleet already avoids annually. The company’s goal of electrifying 50 percent of its fleet by 2030 has the potential to eliminate an additional 29,000 metric tons of GHG emissions.
