ComEd used the Shedd Aquarium on June 28 as a model to announce its expanding energy efficiency program, handing out prizes to Aquarium guests and signing them up for the program’s reduced rates.
“The Shedd Aquarium is the perfect place to celebrate the program’s $2.5 billion milestone, as they demonstrate what can be accomplished by investing in sustainable and energy-efficient business practices,” said Fidel Marquez, senior vice president, Governmental & External Affairs.
The expanded energy efficiency funding is a key provision of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Rauner last year. Through the Future Energy Jobs Act which went into effect this month, ComEd’s investments in energy efficiency programs will almost double by 2030.
“Through FEJA, one of the nation’s best performing energy efficiency programs will get even better with more funding and innovation, bringing even greater value and savings to our customers,” said Marquez.
To help jumpstart customer savings, ComEd gave away 250 energy efficiency products to customers visiting the Aquarium, including smart thermostats, power cords, and more.
Significant funding will be provided to grow existing programs for residential and business customers, such as product rebates, energy assessments, weatherization offerings and retrofitting initiatives. There will also be significant funding for low-income energy efficiency programs, and research and development of new and innovative products and services.
Energy efficiency investments made through FEJA also will create thousands of clean energy jobs through expanded programs and energy innovation, while also preserving low rates and creating a competitive economic advantage for Illinois.
“About 85,000 people in Illinois work in the field of energy efficiency. Those people are in cities across Illinois, including in the low-income communities that we serve,” said Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate Energy. “The Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) will push that number higher, as more customers and more types of facilities will be encouraged to take advantage of energy efficiency.”
ComEd also announced it will file on Friday with the Illinois Commerce Commission a new program that will provide energy efficiency funding of $350 million per year for each of the next four years.
