ComEd filed a delivery service rate increase request with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Oct. 17 that would allow ComEd to continue expanding, upgrading and modernizing its system to meet growing demand for electricity. The filing is the beginning of an 11-month process that allows ComEd to recover costs for everything from storm repairs to new infrastructure development.

The delivery rate increase we have requested will impact the average residential customer’s monthly bill by about 8 percent, about $6 more on an average $75 monthly bill, or about 20 cents per day. The increase would not take effect until September 2008, subject to ICC approval.

There are three primary reasons for this delivery service rate request:

ComEd is investing to modernize the system. By continuing to invest in our infrastructure, ComEd is able to deliver more power to customers than ever before, while reducing the number and length of outages that our customers experience. Looking to the future, we also are improving system performance by implementing new technologies and equipment.

Demand is growing. We need to make investments to expand our system and keep up with growing demand. Six counties in ComEd’s service territory are among the fastest growing in the nation.

Costs to maintain the system are increasing. General maintenance expenses have risen significantly. From 2004 to 2006, transformer costs have more than doubled; overhead wire is up 59 percent; underground cable is up 48 percent; and utility poles are up 43 percent.

This is the second delivery service rate increase that ComEd has filed since emerging from the nearly decade-long rate freeze. The first delivery rate case was based on 2004 costs; the current request is based on 2006 costs.

To receive more information on ComEd's Delivery Service Rate Increase Request, please review this overview of the rate filing, the filing press release and the rate case fact sheet.