Case Study: Commonwealth Edison improves reliability and efficiency with Itron smart grid solutions

ComEd Improves Reliability and Effi ciency with a Single Network for Multiple Smart Grid Services

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), the Chicago-based utility serving more than 4 million customers in northern Illinois, needed to improve system reliability and meet requirements from the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act. To do that, ComEd wanted a single, standards-based communications network that could support multiple smart grid applications, including advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution automation (DA), and future smart city services. Itron provided the technology foundation, including its two-way communications platform and Operations Optimizer analytics.

Itron implemented an end-to-end IPv6 mesh network supporting more than 4 million smart meters, over 6,300 DA devices, and a smart streetlight pilot, all on one unified platform. The results included 7.1 million customer interruptions avoided, a 48% reduction in outage duration, more than $1.4 billion in societal savings from avoided outages, and strong operational gains such as 95%+ accuracy in theft detection and major reductions in truck rolls and streetlight OPEX. ComEd also reported $100 million in annual operational cost reductions returned to customers and significant improvements in reliability and efficiency.

Commonwealth Edison

Anne Pramaggiore

Chief Executive Officer