ComEd’s Delivery System Ready for Summer Season
May 19 2015 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
Company provides annual summer update to the
ICC and will host storm symposium with leaders from around the
country
Summer is just around the corner and ComEd’s workforce and
systems are ready for the demands of the warmer temperatures ahead.
Through its smart grid program and storm- hardening project, ComEd
has continued to invest in upgrading its delivery system and
improving its safety and reliability. This work includes upgrading
substation equipment, installing new transmission wires, poles and
smart meters, and inspecting circuits and equipment.
In its annual summer readiness presentation to the Illinois
Commerce Commission, ComEd noted the benefits of its investments in
smart grid and smart meter technology, in addition to ongoing
storm-hardening work, which have reduced the frequency and duration
of power outages. In addition, ComEd’s storm restoration has
improved by 30 percent since 2011.
“We are committed to providing safe and reliable service to our
customers every day, and the work we have completed on our delivery
system will help us continue to meet that commitment,” said Terence
R. Donnelly, executive vice president and COO. “ComEd’s
infrastructure investments continue to deliver real and notable
service improvements to customers by providing one of the best
reliability performance years on record achieving a 99.96%
reliability rate in 2014.”
As part of the its summer preparedness program, the company also
conducts emergency response drills that include employees from all
areas, testing of computer and emergency systems and reviewing
emergency and storm processes and procedures.
Additionally, the utility is engaged with other utilities, state
agencies and companies to share best practices for storm response.
On May 21 and 22, ComEd and the Edison Electric Institute will
co-host an annual storm symposium with leaders from 15 utilities
from around the country discussing best practices. On June 19,
ComEd will host its second statewide emergency drill with
utilities, state agencies and companies working together to
understand how to get critical services back following a major
weather disaster.
As part of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA),
or Smart Grid law, ComEd is in the midst of a $2.6 billion program
to modernize its electrical grid. The program includes $1.3 billion
to upgrade and storm harden its electric system by replacing
thousands of miles of cable and thousands of poles, as well as
upgrading substations and other equipment. The utility will spend
another $1.3 billion to digitize the system into a smart grid.
The smart grid includes installing advanced technology to help
reduce customer power interruptions. For example, smart switches
(also known as distribution automation devices) route power around
potential problem areas, often with no noticeable interruption in
service.
The investments have, and will continue to, enhance reliability
and serve as an asset to businesses that value a modern,
digital-based smart grid. In addition to helping to avoid millions
of customer interruptions, smart grid work has provided economic
benefits to the state by supporting the creation of 3,600 full-time
equivalent (FTE) jobs in Illinois, including approximately 1,400
FTE jobs at the utility and its contractors.
To help our customers better manage their electric bills, this
year ComEd introduced Peak Time Savings. Customers with smart
meters can voluntarily reduce their electricity use during Peak
Time Savings Hours by managing electricity use, such as saving
laundry for off-peak times, turning up the A/C a few degrees, or
turning off lights when leaving a room. Customers can earn a $1
credit on their electric bills for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of
electricity reduced during Peak Time Savings Hours. ComEd will
announce Peak Time Savings Hours on days when electricity is most
in demand. Peak Time Savings Hours will typically occur for a few
hours between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on three to five days during the
summer.
ComEd reminds customers that higher temperatures can also lead
to higher energy bills. ComEd customers can save energy and money
this summer by following a few simple tips.
- Turn Off Your Lights: Turn off
your lights when you leave a room. Turning off just one 60-watt
incandescent bulb that would otherwise burn eight hours a day can
save you up to $23 per year.
- Add 10 Degrees: Turn your
thermostat up 10 degrees higher during the summer when you leave
your home and before going to sleep. You could save up to 15% a
year on cooling costs.
- Close Your Blinds in the Summer:
Cooling your home in the summer takes a lot of energy. You can help
keep your home cool by limiting the amount of sunlight that enters
by shutting the blinds during the day. If you close your blinds
when the sun is up to prevent heat from entering your home, you can
lower your cooling bills this summer.
- Use a Ceiling Fan: This summer,
instead of blasting the air conditioner (and blowing your electric
bills through the roof), use a ceiling fan to keep cool. Using a
ceiling fan may allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4
degrees without impacting your comfort.
- Adjust Your Water Heater: Set
the temperature of your water heater to 120°F. Every 10 degrees you
reduce your hot water temperature saves you, on average, 3% to 5%
in energy costs.
For more energy-saving tools, tips and resources, visit
ComEd.com/homesavings
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd
provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across
northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For
more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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