ComEd Files Four-Year Grid Plan to Sustain Reliability, Maintain Affordability and Adapt to Rising Energy Demands

Core Insights - ComEd has presented its second multi-year grid plan (MYGP) for 2028-2031, focusing on critical investments to enhance grid reliability and address rising energy demands amid extreme weather challenges [1][2] Investment and Economic Growth - The new grid plan aims to ensure reliable energy delivery and affordable rates while supporting Illinois' clean energy and economic development goals, as outlined in the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) [2] - The plan includes targeted investments to accommodate the energy needs of new commercial projects, which last year represented over $13 billion in planned investment and approximately 2,200 new jobs in the ComEd region [2] Long-Range Strategy - ComEd's Long-Range Strategy (LRS) underpins the MYGP, focusing on growth driven by large load projects, electrification, and severe weather resilience [3] Features of the MYGP - The 2028-2031 MYGP builds on previous investments and addresses current challenges with cost-effective solutions [4] - The plan includes investments to meet unprecedented load growth, facilitate new customer connections, and increase energy capacity at over 70 substations [6] - It aims to accelerate renewable energy growth through infrastructure investments that simplify solar and wind interconnections, with over 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar generation currently connected [6] - Investments will support the clean energy transition by developing residential and commercial solar projects, battery storage, and advanced grid management technologies [6] Affordability and Customer Impact - ComEd evaluates affordability to ensure that total home energy costs do not exceed 3% of average household income for non-electric space heat customers or 6% for space heat customers, as approved by the ICC [7] - Projections indicate that the average residential customer will spend 1.47% of their household income on electricity in 2028, increasing to 1.56% by 2031 [7] Competitive Rates - ComEd's electric rates are among the most competitive in the nation, with average residential rates at 15.34 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is 22% below the average in the Top 20 Metropolitan markets [8] Financial Assistance Programs - In 2025, ComEd provided $108 million in assistance to 220,000 customers, including a Customer Relief Fund of $10 million [9] - The company plans to return over $803 million to customers from nuclear plants and has achieved $12 billion in savings for customers through its energy assistance program [9] Regulatory Process - The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) will decide on ComEd's MYGP by the end of the year after an 11-month review process [10] - The plan estimates an increase of about $2.50 to $3.00 in the average monthly residential customer bill starting in 2028, with similar adjustments in subsequent years [10] Company Overview - ComEd is a unit of Exelon Corporation, serving over 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers, making it the largest utility in the U.S. [11]