ComEd is asking the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for a decrease in the amount it charges customers. The utility also announced it is extending the period it will suspend all service disconnections and new late charges until at least June 1.
ComEd recently asked for a US$11.5 million decrease for the delivery of electricity compared with rates in effect in January of this year, its third rate decrease in a row and the fifth requested since the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA) was enacted in 2011. The ICC and other stakeholders will review the costs and investments contained in ComEd's filing over the next eight months to ensure they are prudent and reasonable before being included in customer rates.
If approved, the average total monthly residential bill would be about US$82 beginning in January of next year, which would be lower than customer bills in 2008. Total bills include energy supply charges, which account for at least half of the monthly bill, and ComEd passes these costs along to customers without profit or markup.
Recognizing the additional financial strain many families and businesses are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, ComEd is also voluntarily extending its suspension of disconnections and new late payment charges through at least June 1, 2020 — one month beyond the original moratorium announced March 13. As Illinois officials have extended stay-at-home orders to ensure public safety, many customers need to work and learn from home, making safe and reliable electricity especially critical.
"Our rate decrease request for 2021 would extend a long period of rate stability and affordability, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help protect our people and our customers during this unprecedented time, including providing financial assistance and most importantly, ensuring all our customers from residential to hospitals have reliable power," said Joe Dominguez, CEO, ComEd. "We have improved our reliability more than 70% since 2012, which is creating savings that we pass along to customers. We take seriously our role in being good stewards of our customers' evolving needs and of the environment, and climate change clearly presents challenges. It requires that we remain focused on continuous improvement and on making investments that deliver superior value. I also want to thank our employees — all of whom are essential workers — for all they do every day to deliver on our promise of clean, safe, and reliable power for every customer."
Dominguez encouraged customers who are experiencing financial challenges to contact ComEd to discuss its variety of payment and assistance options. Visit ComEd.com/CARE or call 800-334-7661 for further details.
