Summer Guide
Tips To Save
Summer in Illinois can get hot. But don’t sweat it! Stay cool while you save on Hourly Pricing! We’ve put together a few important tips so you can enjoy the warm weather and cool savings this summer.
Shift to Save!
Increase your power to save by shifting energy use away from higher-priced hours. Summer prices are typically highest on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. It’s as simple as running your dishwasher, using air conditioning and doing laundry when prices are lower.
Don’t Miss Out On Hourly Pricing Alerts
Hourly Pricing Alerts can help you save by notifying you when electricity prices are trending higher or if next-day demand is expected to be high.
Subscribe to or update your alert preferences by logging in to your My Hourly Pricing Account. Alerts can be sent to you via email, text message or phone call. Real-time and day-ahead prices are available on the Live Prices webpage, the ComEd mobile app and by calling 888-202-7787.
Manage Your Capacity Charge
When you joined Hourly Pricing, you might have noticed Capacity Charge is now listed separately on your monthly bill. The Capacity Charge covers ComEd’s costs to reserve enough electricity supply to meet demand, including peak hours. Capacity Charge is based on your usage during the summer and takes effect the following June. Reducing your energy use, especially of large appliances, during hours of high demand this summer will reduce the Capacity Charge on your bills from June 2024 through May 2025. Learn more about Capacity Charge.
Watch videos about Hourly Pricing Alerts and Capacity Charge to learn more.
Stay Cool While You Save!
Pre-cooling your home is your biggest saving opportunity. It’s simple and easy. Lower your thermostat during the night and early morning and set it to a higher temperature during the afternoon.
Pre-cool your home by lowering your thermostat during the night and early morning to 69° – 72° when prices are lower. You can stay cool and use less energy in the afternoon when electricity is most in demand by raising the temperature of your thermostat to 82° – 85°. Then, later in the day, set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature, between 75° – 78°, and enjoy lower cooling costs.
Set your ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise in the summer to push air down for a cooling effect.
Remember to close your blinds during the day to keep the sun from heating your home. Open windows at night for cool, fresh air.
Run your window air conditioner during the night and early morning when prices are typically lower and turn it off when you’re not at home.
Close your blinds during the day, so your home will retain this cool air. You’ll reduce the need to run your air conditioner when prices are typically higher.
4 More Tips To Help You Save
Dishwashers and laundry machines use a lot of energy and release unwanted heat. To help you stay cool and keep costs low this summer, run your dishwasher at night and do laundry on the weekend.
Take advantage of beautiful summer nights and cook outside on the grill instead of using your stove or oven. You’ll use less energy and keep the excess heat out of your home.
Automate your savings and connect your smart thermostat to If This Then That (IFTTT) for even more control at ComEd.com/IFTTT.
Don’t have a smart thermostat? Head to ComEdMarketplace.com to get instant rebates and discounts on energy-efficient products for your home that can help you save.
Preventing air leaks is one of the best ways to keep warm air out and cool air in. Simple caulking and weather-stripping can help you save on heating and cooling costs.
More Ways To Save
ComEd’s Smart Assistance Manager (SAM) is a self-service tool that delivers personalized financial assistance, payment arrangements and savings recommendations based on your usage and billing history. You can verify program requirements and and tips and offerings to help you save. Visit ComEd.com/SAM
If you prefer a consistent and predictable monthly payment throughout the year that eliminates monthly variation, Budget Billing spreads costs evenly month to month by charging a pre-arranged amount with each bill. Learn more at ComEd.com/BudgetBill
From all of us on ComEd’s Hourly Pricing Team, have a cool summer!