ComEd Restores Power to 55,000 Customers Following Damaging Ice Storms

Rhea-AI Summary

ComEd has restored power to over 55,000 customers following severe ice storms that struck northern Illinois, with approximately 100,000 remaining without electricity as of 8 PM. Crews are working around the clock under challenging conditions to restore service. High winds are anticipated to further complicate recovery efforts, extending the restoration timeline to multiple days. ComEd is actively bringing in additional crews from other states to expedite repairs. The company has prioritized restoring power to critical services and has made significant investments in grid upgrades that have improved reliability by over 80% since 2011, avoiding over 19 million outages.

Positive

• Restored power to over 55,000 customers post ice storms.
• Investments in grid upgrades have improved reliability by over 80% since 2011.
• Avoided over 19 million outages, saving more than $3.3 billion in outage-related costs.

Negative

• Approximately 100,000 customers remain without power.
• Restoration efforts may take several days due to high winds and icy conditions.

Crews working around the clock to safely restore service as quickly as possible

Combination of ice and high winds mean restoration effort likely will last days

B-roll footage of crews restoring outages today: https://vimeo.com/801412568/35e12af7cd

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- After significant ice storms moved through northern Illinois Wednesday afternoon, ComEd crews have restored power to more than 55,000 customers. The hardest hit areas are the north and northwest areas of Illinois. About 100,000 customers remain without power as of 8 pm while ComEd and contractor crews work 24/7 in challenging conditions to restore service to all remaining customers as quickly and safely as possible.

Following the ice storms today, high winds with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are expected tomorrow, which can tear down frozen trees and branches, damaging ComEd equipment and leading to additional power outages. The combination of widespread ice and high winds mean it likely will take multiple days to restore all customers affected by the storms. ComEd is calling in additional crews from other states to help restore power to customers more quickly.

“The layer of ice covering trees, roads and our equipment creates hazards for our crews and can contribute to additional power outages well after the storm has passed,” said Terence R. Donnelly, president and COO of ComEd. “We know losing electric service is frustrating, and we thank everyone for their patience as we work safely to repair damaged equipment and get the power flowing again for all of our customers.”

ComEd has been investing in power grid upgrades and tree trimming to minimize the impact of storms. Since smart grid upgrades began in 2011, ComEd has avoided more than 19 million power outages – saving more than $3.3 billion in outage-related costs – and improved overall reliability by more than 80 percent. In 2022, ComEd delivered its best reliability ever and was recognized with the ReliabilityOne Award for having the most resilient power grid in the U.S.

ComEd prioritizes repairs that will bring back the greatest number of customers at once, and focuses on critical services, such as hospitals, senior centers, law enforcement and fire departments. Crews then move to restoration of individual outages. The following tips and information encourage customers to stay safe following severe weather:

• If you encounter a downed power line, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661).
• Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
• Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous.
• Check on elderly and other family members and neighbors to ensure their safety and make alternate arrangements in the event of an outage.

Customers can sign up for Outage Alerts at ComEd.com/Alerts or text OUT to 26633 to report their outage and receive restoration information about when their power may be restored.

ComEd also offers a mobile app for iPhone® and Android™® smart phones that gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts. In addition, customers can report outages through ComEd’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information visit ComEd.com and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230222006098/en/

ComEd Media Relations

312-394-3500

Source: ComEd

FAQ

What is the current status of power restoration efforts by ComEd?

ComEd has restored power to over 55,000 customers, but about 100,000 customers are still without power due to severe ice storms.

How long will it take for ComEd to restore power to affected customers?

Restoration efforts are expected to last multiple days due to high winds and challenging conditions.

What challenges is ComEd facing in restoring power?

ComEd crews are dealing with high winds and ice-covered equipment, which pose hazards and can cause additional outages.

How has ComEd improved its reliability over the years?

Since 2011, ComEd's grid upgrades have improved reliability by over 80%, avoiding more than 19 million outages.

What measures is ComEd taking to expedite power restoration?

ComEd is calling in additional crews from other states to assist in the restoration efforts.