Semi-Truck Accident Causes Power Outages in Plainfield

ComEd said more than 500 customers were affected by accident at Mill Street and Plainfield-Naperville Road.

Updated at 5:45 p.m. A semi-truck accident Wednesday afternoon led to power outages in Plainfield. Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton said a semi struck some low-hanging telephone cables near Mill Street and Plainfield-Naperville Road before 4:30 p.m. “The semi pulled [the cables] so far that it hit the power lines,” causing sparking and burn marks to the side of the truck, Stratton said. “It’s a big mess out here,” he said, noting that power was out in the area of Mill Street and Plainfield-Naperville Road for a two- to three-block radius. Traffic signals were out at Route 59, Route 126 and Plainfield-Naperville Road. On Plainfield Patch’s Facebook page, a reader reported that power was also out at the Plainfield Public Library. By 5:45 p.m…

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Patch on Politics

ComEd Wants You to Pay More for Electricity You Used Last Year

The utility wants lawmakers to amend a 2011 rate-hike law to allow the utility to retroactively collect money for electricity already used.

 The Illinois Senate Executive Committee unanimously approved a request by ComEd and Ameren to "clarify" a 2011 law that allowed the utilities to raise electricity rates, Illinois Public Radio reports. The clarification would allow the power companies to retroactively charge higher rates for the electricity you've already used, potentially raising up to $70 million for ComEd, according to Sun-Times Media. The 2011 law changed the formula used to determine charges. But the utilities say it didn't work as intended. They say regulators aren't letting them charge what they need. Now the companies are back, asking the legislature to pass another law, clarifying the old one.  (Says) ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore: "Without it we are stalled in these…

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Tom S

9:42 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Under the Smart Grid law passed in 2011, ComEd committed to spend $2.6 billion over 10 years to modernize the electric grid in Northern Illinois. The ICC's interpretation of the law reduced funding to complete the modernization program. As a result, ComEd faced a reduction in funding of nearly $100 million per year in 2014 and beyond. Without the additional funding, ComEd stated it could not …   more ›

ComEd Offers Assistance to Disabled Veterans, Active Military Personnel

Company also offers hardship, non-profit assistance.

Editor's note: The following is a press release issued by ComEd. Veterans Day is on Nov. 12, and with only a couple months remaining in 2012, ComEd is urging its customers, including disabled veterans and deployed active military personnel, to apply for $4 million in assistance funds still available. The money is part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to help ComEd customers struggling to pay their monthly electric bills, and it is a direct result of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act enacted last fall by Illinois lawmakers. ComEd dedicated $10 million in financial assistance for 2012, and nearly half remains available. To raise customers’ awareness of the assistance funds, ComEd launched an advertising campaign encouraging …

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Tree Falls onto Moving Car, Roads Closed After Friday Night Storm

Road closures were still in effect Saturday morning on Plainfield/Naperville Road and Route 126.

It was a near miss for motorists heading down 135th Street during Friday night’s storm, according to Plainfield fire officials. The road was closed last night between Route 59 and Plainfield/Naperville Road after the tree toppled onto the moving vehicle, pinning the occupants inside, according to Deputy Chief Jon Stratton. “The limb actually came through the roof of the car,” Stratton said. “This thing came down and stopped them.” Firefighters had to cut the limb to get the occupants out of the car, although no one was hurt, according to Stratton. “They all refused treatment,” he said. “I don’t know how they got out, to be honest with you — by the grace of God on this one.” The Plainfield Fire Protection District also responded to several …

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Lights Out for Incandescent Bulbs

Congress passed a law in 2007 that has incandescent light bulbs going the way of the dinosaur.

What do a Tyrannosaurus rex and an incandescent light bulb have in common? Both are dinosaurs and while one is already extinct, in a few years, the incandescent light bulb, which has been used for nearly 200 years, will be history. The incandescent light bulb, is on its way out. The bulbs are going to be phased out over the next few years. ComEd is encouraging consumers to begin the phase out and to recycle their old incandescent light bulbs, replacing them with more energy efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs). In January, the phase out of the bulbs began, starting with 100-watt bulbs, according to ComEd. In 2013, the next phase begins with 75-watt bulbs no longer produced and then in …

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Tim

10:36 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012

Aside from the fact that no matter how many times it gets pointed out to you that there actually is no ban, you are going to keep claiming it exists for the purpose of railing against 'government'. I did pass those tests, Dennis. Now perhaps it is time that you stop claiming what you hear on TV or radio stations is truth? You would almost think you were not aware of the 2003 case that went …   more ›

Plainfield Announces New Program To Save Money and Conserve Energy

Village partners with CUB Energy Saver, a web site that tracks ComEd bill savings.

Plainfield has launched an energy-saving initiative on CUBenergysaver.com, the nation’s first online service to offer members rewards for cutting their electric bills. “I love a program that all our residents can embrace,” said Mayor Mike Collins.  “Who doesn’t want to cut their utility bills?  With CUB Energy Saver, our residents have a free and easy way to track their energy usage, save money, and cash in rewards at local businesses.” CUB Energy Saver, created in June 2010, has already saved its 162 Plainfield members $11,892.  The Plainfield residents who have used CUB Energy Saver to monitor their electric use saved a combined 106,556 kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough to power more than 10 average Illinois homes for a year. The …

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ComEd Warns Customers: Be Wary of Scam Artists

In the last two months, 28 customers have reported falling victim to phony utility workers.

ComEd is warning area residents to be on the lookout for scam artists posing as utility workers. The company said it has seen an increase in incidents, with 28 reports in the last two months alone from customers who were duped into disclosing credit card information, handing over cash to scam artists or allowing impersonators to enter their homes. “Last year, ComEd received 13 reports of impersonation incidents,” said Kevin Brookins, senior vice president for strategy and administration at ComEd. In most of the incidents, the impersonators identified themselves as utility employees. Many of the fraudsters dressed the part, wearing a hard hat, items bearing a utility company logo or an orange safety vest. In other cases, the culprits …

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Letter: Mayors Support Electric Aggregation Measure

Referendum will appear on March 20 primary ballot.

On March 20, the residents of our communities will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum allowing their municipality to aggregate, or bundle, their electricity to seek a lower price.  In an aggregation program the electricity is still delivered by ComEd but is supplied by a licensed alternative supplier. ComEd will still be responsible for billing, maintenance and any outage response.  This program has already been successful in Crest Hill, New Lenox and 17 other Illinois communities. The residents in those communities are seeing savings of 10 to 20 percent on their total electric bill.   Our communities are working together to combine the purchasing power of each of our individual communities into one larger buying group. We …

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Board Gives Voters the Power to Decide if Village Negotiates Electric Rates

A referendum on the March 20 ballot will ask voters if they authorize the village to represent them in seeking less-expensive electricity.

Plainfield residents will decide at the voting booth if they want the village to negotiate electric rates on their behalf. The Plainfield Village Board Monday signed off on putting a referendum question on the March 20 ballot. If approved, the village will have the authority to replace ComEd as the village’s power provider with a company that offers lower rates. In other areas where this has been allowed, rates have been reduced anywhere from 10 percent to 30 percent. New Lenox and Crest Hill, which recently joined forces to shop for a new electric company, saw their rates drop by 25 percent. If the referendum is approved, the village may negotiate on its own or work with the Will County Governmental League, which has proposed forming a …

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