CHICAGO (April 9, 2008)  As part of an ongoing 11-month Illinois Commerce Commission process, ComEd will participate in two public hearings designed to provide the ICC with public input on ComEd’s delivery service rate increase request. In its delivery service rate case, ComEd seeks to recover its reasonable costs of doing business ranging from storm repairs to new infrastructure development to system modernization.

"ComEd’s rate request is part of our ongoing efforts to provide more reliable service and to communicate more effectively with our customers," said Anne Pramaggiore, executive vice president of Customer Operations, Regulatory and External Affairs, ComEd. "We look forward to hearing directly from our customers on our continuing efforts to maintain our system, keep up with growth, and meet increasing customer needs and expectations for superior customer service."

The hearings, which will take place in Chicago today and Joliet tomorrow, provide members of the public with an opportunity to learn about ComEd’s request and share their views with the ICC. Several ComEd executives will be on hand to listen to customers’ concerns and answer their questions.

ComEd is requesting a delivery rate increase which, if granted in full, would increase the average residential customer’s monthly bill by about 8 percent, about $6 more on an average $75 monthly bill. Individual customers’ bills may be higher or lower than the average. The utility says three of the main reasons for the increase are: increasing costs of materials and equipment, growth in its Northern Illinois service territory, and its investments to modernize the system.

Maintaining the System
ComEd must devote increasing financial resources to maintain its system because general maintenance expenses have risen sharply. 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.  These costs are increasing faster than inflation.

Keeping Up with Growing Demand
ComEd is delivering more power to more customers than ever before, because Northern Illinois is experiencing growth and increased demand for electricity. In fact, six of the top 100 fastest-growing U.S. counties are in ComEd’s service territory, which has required the company to build
five new substations to serve growing areas. The City of Chicago also is experiencing rapid growth, with housing starts nearly doubling from 2001 to 2006.

Modernizing the Business
By September 2008, ComEd will have invested an additional $1.7 billion in an expanded and more efficient system that is not reflected in current rates. These investments not only include system maintenance and keeping up with growth, they also help to reduce the number and length of outages that customers experience. The utility also is seeking to put in place modern technologies and equipment for the future to reduce outages, shorten outage times and provide better information to customers.

ComEd continues to offer financial assistance programs to help customers adjust to any increase. Customers can apply for these programs through one of the local LIHEAP administering agencies or by contacting ComEd at www.ComEdCARE.com or at 888-806-CARE (2273).

"At ComEd, we recognize that a rate increase can be difficult for some of our customers, especially with the prices of gasoline, food and other necessities rising," Pramaggiore said. "That’s why we are providing more than $18 million in assistance to customers most in need this year, on top of the $40 million we distributed last year."

In addition, all residential customers can take advantage of ComEd’s many energy efficiency and demand response programs, which help customers conserve energy and save money on their bills. ComEd’s compact fluorescent light bulb program, Residential Real Time Pricing, Nature First and the interactive Online Energy Audit are among the different ways that customers can save money by using less electricity. More information on these programs, as well as additional tips and tools, are available at www.ComEdCARE.com.