Energy Efficiency Filing Would Propel ComEd to National Leadership Position

CHICAGO, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd today outlined plans to save customers more than $155 million on their electricity bills as a result of a new portfolio of energy efficiency programs. Once implemented, the programs will place ComEd among the top three utilities in the nation in terms of annual electricity savings achieved through energy efficiency.

In a filing with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), ComEd proposed a slate of programs to meet energy reduction targets over a three-year period. If targets are met, ComEd customers would reduce their electricity consumption by a cumulative amount of about 1.2 million megawatt-hours (MWh) by the end of the three-year program. This would equal the amount of electricity needed to power about 140,000 homes for one year.

Savings on customers' bills will pay for the cost of implementing the programs and produce additional net savings of more than $155 million over the lifetime of the portfolio.

ComEd was a strong advocate for recently passed legislation (SB 1592) that ensured Illinois electric utilities created energy efficiency plans to meet significant electricity reduction goals. Energy efficiency reduces customers' bills and benefits the environment by offsetting the growth in electricity demand and reducing the amount of power needed from power plants that emit greenhouse gases linked to global climate change.

"Our portfolio of programs will raise awareness about climate change, lead to positive changes in our customers' electricity consumption habits, and reduce their bills," said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd executive vice president of Customer Operations, and Regulatory and External Affairs. "ComEd and its parent company, Exelon, are leaders in addressing the issue of climate change."

Pending ICC approval in February, the following are highlights of some energy efficiency programs ComEd plans to launch in 2008:

Residential Solutions -- Residential Lighting. A lighting program offers customers instant rebates when they purchase compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and qualifying specialty lamps. For example, customers could purchase deeply discounted 60- to 100-watt CFL-equivalent bulbs and 3-way or dimmable bulbs. A CFL bulb uses about 75 percent less energy than an equivalent-size incandescent bulb and lasts 10 times as long. If a customer replaced six incandescent bulbs with CFLs in high use areas, they would save about 4 percent on their monthly bills. For an average residential customer with a monthly bill of $75, that amounts to about $3 in savings per month. -- Appliance Recycling. Residential customers receive financial incentives for turning in inefficient air conditioners and secondary refrigerators and freezers. For example, an older secondary refrigerator in a basement may be eligible for recycling under this program. ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerator models use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold just a few years ago. Eliminating a secondary refrigerator altogether could reduce an annual electric bill by nearly $160. -- Residential Multi-Family "All-Electric" Sweep. This program provides incentives to contractors to install electricity-saving measures in apartment and condominium units that use electricity for heating. These measures could include new hot water heater wraps, pipe insulation, low-flow showerheads, CFLs, and high-efficiency clothes washers and dryers in common areas. Customers could realize energy savings up to 15 percent with the installation of all of these items. -- Nature First Demand Response. ComEd will increase participation in this program, which allows the utility to turn customers' air conditioner compressors on and off during periods when electricity demand is high. Participants in the program earn bill credits. More than 55,000 customers currently are enrolled and receive bill credits up to $10 per month in the summer months. Business Solutions -- Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive. This program would provide businesses with a menu of pre-approved, environmentally friendly lighting, motors, HVAC equipment and chillers. Commercial and industrial customers would receive a rebate from ComEd for the implementation of these technologies. -- Commercial and Industrial Custom Incentives. Businesses would apply for incentives for more complex projects, such as industrial processes, that provide energy efficiency savings. Applications would show an estimate of proposed savings and require a ComEd engineering review.

ComEd shares the administration of the programs with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The majority of the money DCEO administers, about 25 percent of the overall funding, is dedicated to municipalities, schools and low-income customers.

These proposed programs were developed after a national review of energy efficiency best practices and input received from a broad group of stakeholders. ComEd plans to recover the cost of these programs beginning in June 2008 with a small charge capped as a percentage of customers' previous year billing (0.5 percent in 2008, about 1.0 percent in 2009, and about 1.5 percent in 2010).

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation , one of the nation's largest electric utilities. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.