ComEd Prepares System for High Temperatures, Offers Energy Savings Tips for Customers

CHICAGO, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- With this week's hot, humid weather, ComEd is taking precautionary steps to prepare for heavy demand, including postponing planned work that would require equipment to be out of service, and staying in close contact with local officials should any problems arise.

"Customers' demand for electricity is always highest when weather conditions are extreme," said ComEd President Frank Clark. "We've completed more than 300 infrastructure improvement projects to not only ensure a reliable system during the summer but year-round."

To help customers stay comfortable, and manage their summer electricity bills, ComEd offers some simple energy-efficiency steps that can save up to 15 percent on home energy costs:

1. Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level (75 - 78 degrees) when at home. Lowering the thermostat setting below the desired temperature will not cool the home faster. 2. To reduce heat and moisture during the warmest part of the day, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it's generally cooler outside. Also, use a microwave to cook, or barbecue outside, if possible. 3. Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply drawing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat gain to your home. Awnings are even better, and can reduce heat gain by up to 75 percent. Window coatings and window film can reflect as much as 80 percent of direct rays from the sun. 4. Turn off all unnecessary lighting and appliances, which add heat to the home. 5. Keep doors to the outside, garage or attic firmly closed to keep cool air in and hot air out. 6. Use fans to evenly distribute cool air and reduce the air conditioner's "on" time. 7. Place window air conditioners on the north or shady side of the house to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun. 8. Replace the air conditioner filter for the start of the cooling season and check its condition monthly. For window air conditioners, the filter is located inside the unit. For central air systems, homeowners would change the same filter that is located in the furnace. 9. Install or replace caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows to keep cool air inside. 10. When shopping for appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, look for the Energy Star label, and purchase the most affordable energy-efficient unit. Newer more energy-efficient models lower monthly operating costs.

For more energy saving ideas, visit http://www.exeloncorp.com/ or call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661).

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation one of the nation's largest electric utilities with more than $14 billion in revenues and a customer base of five million. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.7 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.