EXELON CORPORATION On the heels of the first significant storm system of 2024 that brought 6'-8' of wet heavy snow to the area, ComEd is, again, gearing up for extreme cold that will bring air temperatures below zero degrees and wind chills below -40 degrees.
The company opened its
'This is going to be a dangerous cold event that will spread across our entire system,' said
ComEd has more than 320 utility workers currently on the system responding to outages. In addition, the company is coordinating with local officials and offices of emergency management to identify outages at critical facilities.
ComEd was recently named the most reliable utility in the country as a result of its grid modernizations and investments in tree trimming and system upgrades to minimize the impact of storms. Since smart grid upgrades began in 2011, more than 19 million power outages have been avoided and overall reliability has improved by more than 70 percent. This work, including process improvement, helped lead to ComEd restoring power to 137,000 customers impacted by last week's storms in 36 hours.
When responding to power outages caused by storms, ComEd's priority is to restore critical facilities such as police and fire stations, nursing homes and hospitals first, followed by repairs that will restore power to the greatest number of customers.
Safety steps
The safety of the public and crews working to restore power is ComEd's top priority. In order to support each other in the weather, ComEd is doubling up its crews to work on outages. Customers may see ComEd and contractor crews taking breaks during restoration efforts to warm up and stay safe during the frigid weather.
ComEd also encourages customers to take the following precautions to remain safe: If a downed power line is spotted, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (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 extremely dangerous and energized.
In the event of an outage, do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power to ask about restoration times. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment, and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous.
ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information and can follow the company on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComEd. Customers can also call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at ComEd.com/report. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
ComEd's mobile app for iPhone and Android smart phones gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts; download the app at ComEd.com/app.
To save money during the extreme cold, ComEd offers the following no-cost tips.
When the sun is shining, open shades on south-facing windows and take advantage of natural light for warmth. Close the shades during the night to help insulate your home.
Clear area around heating and cooling vents. Furniture, carpets, and other objects can block vents and prevent heated or cooled air from traveling. This blockage makes your heating system work harder and prevents rooms from warming up quickly.
Unplug electronics when they're not in use. Some devices continue to draw electricity even when turned off, so unplug electronics when you don't need them. For convenience, plug devices into a power strip and turn it off. Televisions, DVR boxes, game consoles, and computers are examples of devices that use electricity when turned off but still plugged in.
Turn down your water heater to 120-degreeF. This way it won't run as much to heat water and you'll save energy.
ComEd is a unit of
Contact:
Tel: 312-394-3500
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