Chicago, Il – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) struck $25.4 million from ComEd’s $268.5 million 2024 rate reconciliation request. The decision is the first in a new performance-based evaluation process designed to reconcile actual utility spending with the approved investments outlined in the utility’s multi-year grid and rate plans.

“The ICC’s responsibility is to balance the interests of Illinois’ utilities and their consumers, and our new grid planning process is designed to hold the state’s largest electric utilities accountable for their performance,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott. “The ICC’s decision today reiterates that unsupported departures from ComEd’s approved grid plan are inconsistent with the goals of the grid planning process, and it is the utility’s responsibility to prove that any adjustments made are reasonable and prudent for maintaining our power system.”

Today’s decision notably struck the bulk of overrun costs related to ComEd’s customer care and billing rollout last year, finding that ComEd failed to prove these costs were prudently incurred. The ICC removed performance incentives for the mismanaged rollout.

The decision also requires ComEd to include affordability data updates and cost benefit analyses of related grid plan projects in future rate reconciliation dockets to allow the ICC and relevant stakeholders to evaluate the impact of ComEd’s grid plan in real time.

In 2024, the ICC approved ComEd’s revised grid plan to strengthen power grid reliability, support progress toward Illinois’ clean energy goals, and hold the utility accountable for meeting performance metrics set by the Commission. In addition to the electric grid plan requirement, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) subjects ComEd and Ameren to performance-based evaluations in place of a preapproved formula rates.

The ICC issued its decision after closely scrutinizing ComEd’s reconciliation filing, along with materials submitted by the utility, ICC staff, and various intervenors over the course of an eight-month legal proceeding. In accordance with the Public Utilities Act, proposed costs are recoverable only when the utility demonstrates they are reasonable and prudent. In addition to traditional standards under the Public Utilities Act, the ICC evaluated ComEd’s actual costs using the cost-effectiveness, coordinated long term planning, equity, affordability, and transparency considerations outlined in CEJA.

ComEd customers can expect these costs to be offset by a $803 million rebate approved earlier this month under CEJA’s carbon mitigation credit.

Beginning January 2026, eligible customers can also qualify for ComEd’s low-income discount program that provides tiered monthly discounts designed to reduce energy bills to 3 to 6 percent of household income.

ComEd provides service for 4 million electric customers in northern Illinois. More information regarding ComEd’s annual reconciliation can be found in Docket No. 25-0383.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is a quasi-judicial body made up of five Commissioners. Through its Public Utility Program, the Commission oversees the provision of adequate, reliable, efficient, and safe utility services at the least possible cost to Illinois citizens served by electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and sewer public utility companies. To learn more about the Commission, its offices, and bureaus, click here. If you are a consumer who needs help resolving a utility dispute call 800-524-0795 or file an online complaint here. For a complaint related to transportation, call 217-782-6448.

Illinois e-News Release

ICC issues decision on ComEd rate reconciliation

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