Illinois is Recognized as One of the Top States in the Nation for Electrical Grid Modernization
ComEd Smart Grid project helps position Illinois in top five states
in all judging categories
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the last five years, work to modernize ComEd’s energy grid has
contributed to record reliability for its customers. This work, in
addition to the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and
participation in the Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) NextGrid
initiative, helped position Illinois as second in nation in the 2016
Grid Modernization Index (GMI), available at www.gridwise.org.
The report, produced by the GridWise® Alliance and the Smart Grid Policy
Center, evaluates and ranks states based on their progress in
modernizing their electric systems with smart grid technologies. The GMI
applies a clearly defined set of criteria to evaluate the progress of
state grid modernization efforts in three key areas: policy, customer
engagement and grid operations.
This is the third year in a row that Illinois is recognized as a top
state in grid modernization. Illinois and California were the only
states to appear in the top 5 states in each criteria category.
“Our smart grid work has helped to deliver the best four years on record
of power reliability and service to our customers,” said Anne
Pramaggiore, ComEd president and chief executive officer. “We are
building off the foundation of this work to help move Illinois to a
clean energy future and provide greater access to renewables, energy
efficiency and valuable job training within our communities.”
The smart grid law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2011
opened the doors for ComEd to modernize its 100-year old system and
provide customers with improved reliability, more programs and options
to manage electricity usage, while also enhancing economic development
in Illinois and building smart infrastructure for the future.
Illinois also was noted for its NextGrid initiative, a statewide
program, created by the ICC, to study how Illinois can enhance energy
delivery and power the technology and innovation revolution to promote
greater economic growth and quality of life for all Illinoisans. ComEd
is participating in NextGrid, along with stakeholders and experts in
technology, energy, business and government— as well as consumer
advocates.
In 2016, the Illinois General Assembly passed FEJA, which pivots
Illinois to the new clean energy economy, saving and creating thousands
of clean jobs and providing job training for the future workforce, while
also creating significant consumer and environmental benefits. This
comprehensive, bipartisan legislation jumpstarts renewables in Illinois,
setting the stage to grow enough solar and wind energy to power one
million homes. It also nearly doubles energy efficiency programs,
creating more than $4 billion in consumer savings and reducing the CO2
equivalent to removing 18 million cars from the road. Further, FEJA
contains significant programs for low-income communities and extends
ComEd’s customer assistance programs through 2021.
“ComEd is pleased to help support and grow Illinois' new energy
economy,” said Pramaggiore. “We look forward to fully implementing all
the pieces of FEJA and helping our customers and state reap all of its
benefits.”
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon
Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy
provider, with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd provides
service to approximately four million customers across northern
Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more
information visit ComEd.com,
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Contacts
ComEd Media Relations
312-394-3500