Editing Commonwealth Edison (section)

==Smart Grid==
In 2016, ComEd made an investment worth $2.6 billion in what is known as their "Smart Grid." The plan will modernize the electric grid in Illinois by improving electric lines, installing smart meters and otherwise upgrading what the company says was badly outdated infrastructure. The intent of the Smart Grid plan is to make the Illinois electric grid stronger and more modern, and to eliminate the need for meter readers.<ref>Rozens, Tracy. [https://dailyenergyinsider.com/efficiency/1416-experts-growth-renewables-energy-mix-highlights-need-grid-modernization/ "Experts: Growth of Renewables in Energy Mix Highlights Need for Grid Modernization"]. ''Daily Energy Insider'', August 10, 2016. Accessed August 19, 2016</ref> Smart grid technology is similar to smartphone technology in that it uses wireless connectivity to update information about power consumption and other events. ComEd lobbyists wrote the law as mandatory Wireless Smart Meter installations to all customers of Illinois. It was passed by the Illinois General Assembly against vehement and persistent opposition from the Attorney General, AARP and informed Illinois citizens. ComEd spent around $16 million convincing General Assembly to over-ride Governor Quinn's Veto. When elected, Governor Rauner signed another bill favoring ComEd over the rights of citizens to have a choice to opt out from installation of Wireless Smart Meter. ComEd and the other primary utility company in Illinois have together installed more than 3 million smart meters—digital devices that collect information about how much electricity is used—at customer homes and businesses. The meters send that information to ComEd through wireless technology.<ref>[https://www.comed.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/SmartEnergy/eima_fact_sheet_smart_grid_2013-final-lores.pdf "ComEd Grid Modernization"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804121148/http://www.comed.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/SmartEnergy/eima_fact_sheet_smart_grid_2013-final-lores.pdf |date=2016-08-04 }}. ComED. Accessed August 19, 2016.</ref> ComEd has said that the technology "has avoided 7.6 million outages and generated $1.4 billion in societal savings."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://midwestenergynews.com/2017/04/27/after-five-years-illinois-smart-grid-buildout-showing-results/|title=After five years, Illinois smart grid buildout showing results|last=Commons|first=Michael Kappel / Creative|website=Midwest Energy News|access-date=2017-07-13}}</ref>

The Smart Meter replacement project was awarded to Aclara Smart Grid Solutions, with the rollout starting in late 2016 in Chicago. The project was completed in 2019 in the western edge of the ComEd service territory.

On February 28, 2018, Illinois utility regulators authorized ComEd to establish a 10-year electric [[microgrid]] demonstration project on the [[South Side, Chicago|South Side of Chicago]]. "The Bronzeville Community Microgrid Project will connect with a microgrid at the Illinois Institute of Technology, creating one of the first utility-scale microgrid clusters in the nation, ComEd officials said," according to ''Daily Energy Insider''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/11003-illinois-regulators-approve-microgrid-project-south-side-chicago/|title=Illinois regulators approve microgrid project on South Side of Chicago|last=Yingling|first=Bill|date=2018-03-01|work=Daily Energy Insider|access-date=2018-03-22|language=en-US}}</ref>{{update after|2021|12|16}}<!-- This paragraph is about an authorization and press announcements.  Is there really a microgrid running in Bronzeville after all of that? -->