ComEd Has Smart Ideas for Customers to Manage Fall Weather Energy Bills

National Energy Awareness Month is a great time for customers to take
advantage of money-savings energy solutions

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The fall season has arrived and soon the cooler weather will have
customers in Illinois increasing the temperatures on their thermostats
to maintain the comfort level in their homes. October is National Energy
Efficiency Month and serves as a good reminder to encourage customers to
take actions that can help them cut energy usage, costs and help the
environment. ComEd customers are eligible to participate in one of the
largest energy efficiency programs in the nation — the
ComEd Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program — offering customers an
array of options that can even help convert the biggest energy hogs into
super energy savers.

Since the launch of Smart Ideas in 2008 the program has helped ComEd
customers save more than $1.5 billion on their electric bills and
eliminate 21.6 billion pounds of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. This
is the equivalent to removing two million cars from the road.

“There are a number of ways ComEd customers can benefit from the ComEd
Smart Ideas Program. This summer our customers saved an estimated $36
million by taking advantage of money-saving program initiatives,” said
Val Jensen, senior vice president of ComEd customer operations. Most
recently ComEd partnered with advocacy groups, government agencies and
other Illinois utilities to launch the smart thermostat initiative,
which offers customer rebates that cut the cost of the technology by
nearly 50 percent and can save about $100 off of annual utility bills.
“This tangible piece of technology is the next thing to come along in
energy efficiency after the compact fluorescent lightbulb and we believe
it is going to offer customers substantial savings,” said Jensen.

According to Energy
Star, a typical single-family home spends nearly $2,200 a year on
their energy bills. Heating accounts for 29 percent of these costs,
appliances 13 percent and lighting 12 percent. ComEd’s program can help
customers reduce the amount of energy they use and keep more money in
their pocketbooks.

“There are plenty of simple and low-costs ways customers can save energy
in their homes – from changing a few incandescent light bulbs for CFLs,
to investing in a new energy-efficient technology like smart thermostats
or updated heating and cooling systems,” said George Malek, ComEd Energy
Doctor. “ComEd’s energy experts are available to help customers make
energy changes to their homes and businesses that can make a positive
difference.”

• Assessments
  – Customers not sure where to start looking for energy savings can
  schedule a FREE energy assessment of their home or apartment.
  During the assessment, homeowners will receive free installation of
  energy-saving products, including ENERGY STAR® certified CFLs,
  programmable thermostats, showerheads, and more as well as
  personalized savings recommendations. Smart thermostats and ENERGY
  STAR® certified LEDs are also available for purchase at a discount and
  include FREE installation.
• Recycling
  – Customers can retire their old fridge or freezer by scheduling
  a free pickup from ComEd. Old refrigerators and freezers can cost
  up to $150 a year in electricity. ComEd will pick up the customer’s
  old, working fridge or freezer for FREE, recycle it in an
  environmentally responsible way, and send the customer $50.
• Rebates
  – ComEd and the Illinois gas utilities are offering
  rebates of up to $120 on qualifying smart
  thermostats. These rebates can cut the cost of the devices nearly
  in half, making the convenience and increased control of energy use
  more affordable. ComEd also offers a variety of rebates up to $500 on
  select ENERGY STAR^® certified appliances, including
  refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, electric clothes dryers and
  more.
• Discounts
  – Customers can take advantage of instant in-store discounts
  on select ENERGY STAR^® certified CFLs and LEDs at over
  1,100 local retailers. Simply look for the “Lower Price” sticker to
  save. CFLs and LEDs use about 75 percent less energy and last longer
  than traditional incandescent light bulbs.

For more information on the ComEd Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program,
visit ComEd.com/HomeSavings
for residential customers and ComEd.com/BizSavings
for business customers.

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.

Contacts

ComEd Media Relations
(312) 394-3500
www.ComEd.com/News