Illinois is Recognized as One of the Top States in the Nation for Electrical Grid Modernization

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 | www.comed.com