CHICAGO, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd customers are on their way to saving more than $155 million in annual energy costs by taking advantage of the utility's Smart Ideas® energy efficiency programs. In its first two years of the program, ComEd has helped customers achieve more than 616,000 MWh of energy savings. This is the equivalent to the energy required to power close to 75,000 homes for one year.

"While results from our second year still are being analyzed, the numbers indicate we are on target to achieve 453,000 MWh of energy savings, which is approximately 45 percent above our target," said Val Jensen, vice president, Marketing and Environmental Programs, ComEd. "These results are a strong signal that our customers are finding value in our programs. Over the next several years, we plan to increase our programs to offer more energy efficient options to our customers."

ComEd launched it Smart Ideas programs in June 2008 to provide residential and business customers easy and accessible energy efficient ways to manage their energy usage, save money and help the environment.

During the first year of the program, ComEd exceeded its energy reduction goals achieving 163,717 MWh of energy savings. This is the equivalent to the energy required to power close to 20,000 homes for one year. If ComEd meets its energy reduction goals for all three of its program years, the programs will be among the best in the country in terms of electricity savings achieved through energy efficiency.

"When we launched our energy efficiency programs in 2008, our goal was to achieve 0.2 percent reduction in total retail electricity used through the programs. By year 5, we will be saving one percent every year," added Jensen.

Total Savings for Year 2 - Residential Customers

Sold nearly 8.2 million discounted CFL bulbs and 72,000 light fixtures at participating retail stores, saving more than 145,000 MWh of electricity.
Recycled nearly 26,000 appliances saving nearly 33,000 MWh of electricity.
Upgraded nearly 5,000 all-electric, single-family and multi-family dwellings with CFLs, water-saving faucet and shower aerators, water heater insulating jackets, and water pipe insulation sleeves, saving more than 2,400 MWh of electricity.
Performed just under 17,000 central air conditioner tune-ups or installations, which saved more than 1,400 MWh.
Enrolled more than 11,000 new customers in Central Air Conditioning Cycling, giving ComEd the potential to reduce load by more than 16 MWs during peak periods. In total, this program can reduce peak demand by 110 MWs.

Total Savings for Year 2 - Business Customers

Supported nearly 2,000 projects that help businesses improve energy efficiency with approximately $16 million in incentives saving more than 209,000 MWh of electricity annually.
Dispensed nearly $8,000 in incentives on average per customer.
Provided retro-commissioning services for 13 customers that resulted in savings of 6,500 MWh. Retro-commissioning services include an expert analysis of commercial and industrial buildings to help building owners identify and implement no-cost and low-cost energy-saving measures to reduce energy waste and operating costs.

As of June 1 the third program year for ComEd's Smart Ideas programs is underway with nearly $120 million in funding. To date, the program is on target to meet its annual goal.

ComEd currently is offering customers a $35 rebate for each old, working refrigerator or freezer recycled through their appliance recycling program. In addition, through Smart Ideas customers can purchase CFLs (compact fluorescent light) at a discount at participating retailers, and through its online store, ComEd offers an array of energy-saving products at a 20 percent discount to its customers.

For more information on ComEd's Smart Ideas programs, including participation in ComEd's appliance recycling program, a list of participating retailers and to access ComEd's online store, please visit [ www.ComEd.com ].

ComEd's Smart Ideas portfolio of energy efficiency programs are funded by ComEd customers and support Exelon 2020, an aggressive environmental strategy by ComEd's parent company, Exelon, to reduce, offset, or displace more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2020.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.

SOURCE ComEd

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ComEd Energy Efficiency Programs Exceeds Energy Reduction Goals

ComEd Energy Efficiency Programs Exceeds Energy Reduction Goals

Smart Ideas? programs projected to save customers more than $155 million over the lifetime of the programs