Award recognizes ComEd’s interconnection of over one gigawatt of distributed energy resources to the grid
ComEd is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Policy Power Player Award at the prestigious 2025 SEPA Power Player Awards. The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) awards recognize outstanding individuals, organizations and projects that have advanced the transition to a clean, affordable and resilient energy system through bold leadership, collaborative partnerships and replicable solutions.
The Policy Power Player Award highlights ComEd’s exceptional leadership in promoting clean energy solutions and fostering partnerships that benefit communities and the environment. Following the enactment of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021, ComEd has been leading the forefront of transitioning the state of Illinois to 100% clean energy by 2050. In 2024, ComEd reached a significant milestone of this transition by interconnecting over one gigawatt of distributed energy resource (DER) capacity to the grid. A DER is a small-scale energy system that generates or stores electricity locally. DERs include solar panels, wind turbines and battery storage systems. These resources help improve energy efficiency, reduce customer utility bills and enhance grid resilience.
“ComEd is honored to be named a winner of this year’s SEPA Power Player Awards for our teams’ incredible work in connecting distributed energy resources to the grid in northern Illinois,” said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “The addition of DERs at the residential, commercial and community level helps our team and our customers establish a more reliable and more resilient grid, all while keeping the cost of transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 in Illinois affordable.”
Over the past five years, ComEd has supported incredible growth in Illinois-based DERs, with 114% annual growth in residential DER systems, 25% annual growth for commercial and industrial customers and over 4,000% growth in community solar since 2019. With over 170 community solar deployments throughout northern Illinois, including milestone deployments in Belvidere, IL—which supports commercial power needs on land formerly used for a landfill—and Chicago Heights—which serves an equity investment eligible community (EIEC)–ComEd is demonstrating the benefits of solar generation without the need for residential and commercial customers to own their own systems.
ComEd’s achievements in DER integration place Illinois first among Midwest states in DER capacity, significantly advancing CEJA’s clean energy and decarbonization goals. Many of these projects make solar energy available to low-income residents or small businesses that might not otherwise have access to these opportunities.
“I am thrilled to recognize this year’s Power Player Awards recipients, each of whom has driven remarkable advancements in the energy sector,” said Sheri Givens, President and CEO of SEPA. “This year’s winners reflect the real measurable progress made in 2024 by individuals and organizations whose pioneering work not only propels us towards a sustainable energy future but also sets a global standard for innovation and collaborative success in the field. This year’s awardees highlight the power of dedicated individuals and teams to effect real, impactful change, inspiring all of us to continue striving for excellence in our industry.”
ComEd has invested in robust technology to offer comprehensive support, enhanced communication and make the adoption of clean energy more accessible and financially viable to all its interconnection customers. This has been achieved through the development of resources including the Digital Solar Tool, Solar Calculator and access to rebate information.
This year, SEPA received nearly 100 nominations for these annual awards representing innovation from utilities, corporations, regulators and more, all playing a role in advancing the energy transition. Winners and finalists were selected by a diverse panel of judges. ComEd was honored at the 2025 Power Players Awards Dinner on April 1, 2025, in San Diego, California, held in conjunction with SEPA’s Energy Evolution Summit.
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