April 14--ComEd filed two requests for rate increases Wednesday that the utility says are needed to help cover costs for modernizing the system, including investments in Smart Grid-related work.
ComEd is asking for a rate increase of about $138 million, which it said would translate to about $2 per month for the average residential customer beginning in January 2017. That request was filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, which has eight months to review it before issuing a decision.
ComEd also wants an increase in transmission rates that it said would add about $1 to an average residential customer's bill beginning in June. That request was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ComEd said it spent $2.4 billion in capital investments in 2015, including $663 million for Smart Grid-related work. The Smart Grid has provided customers with "record power reliability, millions of avoided outages and faster restoration times when outages do occur," according to the utility.
The Citizens Utility Board said it plans to review ComEd's proposal.
"ComEd has launched historic improvements to the power grid that have the potential to benefit all customers, but that doesn't mean the company should get more money than it can justify," the utility watchdog group said in a statement.
gwong@tribpub.com
