ComEd Launches New Calculators For Customers On Costs, Savings From Rooftop, Community Solar

Commonwealth Edison in Illinois (ComEd) today announced, "it has introduced new enhancements to its private rooftop and community solar calculators to make it easier for customers to learn more about costs, benefits and savings as demand for these options continues to grow[.]"

"The updates to the new solar calculators make it easy for customers to determine their best options for accessing the benefits of solar energy, including the positive environmental impact they can make by reducing their carbon footprint through solar energy," said Lewis Binswanger, ComEd’s senior vice president of Government and External Affairs.

"We are available to support customers in every step of their solar journey," Binswanger said

The interactive rooftop solar calculator evaluates a roof’s solar energy potential, including factors such as roof direction, slope and shading. "To ensure that rooftop solar estimates will reflect a customers’ energy requirements, the calculator allows customers to include future electric usage that would result from electric vehicle charging or the replacement of gas appliances with electric alternatives. Customers receive a personalized report that combines current and estimated future energy usage and includes the number of solar panels required to meet their energy needs, project costs, rebates, incentives and payback period," ComEd said

"The calculator also provides information on a rebate program that is newly available to residential customers through CEJA. It offers a rebate of $300 per kilowatt for an eligible distributed generation facility, such as a private solar system, and a rebate of $300 per kilowatt hour for an associated energy storage device. Customers are able to compare their potential payback with and without incorporating the rebate, enabling them to see how it would impact their estimated payback period," ComEd said

ComEd also has launched a new community solar calculator, which provides estimated savings based on current energy usage.

The number of ComEd residential and business customers who have installed solar systems has grown from 837 at the end of 2016 to 41,270 customers through May of this year. Additionally, there are more than 82 community solar projects in ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory, and the company estimates there will be more than 100 projects serving more than 25,000 customers by the end of this year.