More than a few leading US corporations and institutions have bowed down before the Trump policy buzz saw, but a few points of light still glimmer through the gloom. One of them is the the ComEd branch of the leading diversified US energy company Exelon. ComEd has just launched a $168 million followup to its successful “Beneficial Electrification” program in Illinois, focusing on EV adoption in underserved communities.
Another $168 Million For Beneficial Electrification & EV Adoption
Exelon bills itself as the largest energy firm in the US by number of customers, with a combined 10.7 million ratepayers in its electricity and natural gas portfolio. Many of them — 4 million or so — are served by ComEd in Illinois, accounting for about 70% of the state’s population.
The clock will start on ComEd’s new $168 million, three-year plan in 2026. “ComEd will invest an additional $168 million between 2026-2028 through BE Plan 2 to help residential and non-residential customers transition to and take advantage of electric vehicles,” the company explains.
By “additional” ComEd means in addition to the company’s previous $231 million, three-year “BE 1” commitment to beneficial electrification from 2023 to 2025.
ComEd notes that the BE 1 wheels went into motion on February of 2024, resulting in incentives for a total of almost 5,000 Level 2 and fast-charging EV charging ports at public and private locations. ComEd also credits the incentives with nearly 1,000 new and pre-owned fleet EVs leased or purchased.
Over this same period, Illinois has seen EV registrations grow three to four times faster than the nation as a whole, ComEd notes.
Who’s Afraid Of The DEI?
As if deliberately clapping back at the Trump administration’s red-hot vendetta against corporate DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs, ComEd also notes over 70% of the rebates in BE 1 went to “low-income customers or business and public sector organizations located in, or primarily serving, low-income and Equity Investment Eligible Communities.”
For BE 2, ComEd states that projects located in, or primarily serving, low income or Equity Investment Eligible Communities “will be eligible for higher rebate amounts, and will receive more than 50% of the BE Plan 2 budget.”
ComEd also emphasizes that its new $168 million investment in EV incentives aligns with Illinois state policy on DEI and climate action, too. “The approval of ComEd’s BE Plan 2 follows the successful implementation of ComEd’s first BE Plan, which was approved in 2023 under the guidance of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA),” ComEd explains.
“Signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2021, CEJA aims to combat climate change by leveraging Illinois’ clean electricity grid and promoting beneficial electrification across the state,” they add for good measure.
What Makes Beneficial Electrification So Beneficial?
If you’re wondering what beneficial electrification is, that’s a good question. On a user level, the idea of beneficial electrification is fairly straightforward. As ComEd notes, EVs can provide cost savings and performance benefits for their owners, while benefiting whole communities by eliminating tailpipe exhaust.
ComEd cites Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at Respiratory Health, who reminds everyone that one of the most effective ways to improve public health and air quality is to reduce vehicle emissions.
“ComEd’s continued investment in its Beneficial Electrification Plan is now even more critical in helping cut harmful pollutants, leading to cleaner air and healthier communities across northern Illinois,” Urbaszewski emphasized in a press statement.
As for implementation, hardware plays a major role, as illustrated by Com Ed’s BE 2 program. Over the three-year span of the program, ComEd plans to offer $11 million in rebates of up to $2,500 per household for buying and installing Level 2 EV chargers.
Private and public sector fleet owners get an $82 million slice of the rebate pie, aimed at buying new or used fleets EVs. ComEd notes that every weight class is covered, meaning passenger cars on up to Class 8 heavy duty trucks.
Site prep for new EV charging stations can be a major expense, which BE 2 addresses with $44 million in “Make-Ready” rebates for public or private Level 2 or fast-charging stations.
The educational side of beneficial electrification is also at work in BE 2. It includes a three year, $11 million carve-out to provide households and fleet managers with information on EVs and charging infrastructure. Among the support services, ComEd lists free access to its electrification toolkits for households, municipalities and fleet operators.
The innovation angle is also covered, with $11 million carved out to investigate new technologies and $9 million dedicated to multi-pronged initiatives aimed an ensuring that BE 2 achieves its aims.
Beneficial Electrification: It’s Complicated
ComEd further notes that it has amasses a whole suite of resources supporting EV adoption, including its EV Toolkit, EV Ambassador Program, EV Readiness program, EV Load Capacity Map, Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Service Provider Network, and EV Dealership Network among others.
Meanwhile, the beneficial electrification movement is a bit more involved than getting more people to buy more EVs. Beyond benefits to individual energy users, advocates for beneficial electrification argue that a new, whole-of-economy approach to energy policy is needed.
“Currently, state policies largely treat the power, heating and transportation sectors as separate entities. Additionally, emission reduction and efficiency targets — where they exist — are set individually for utilities. Therefore, an electric utility is largely disincentivized from growing its market share, even if it could be done in an environmentally beneficial manner,” explains the organization Environmental and Energy Study Institute.
“For example, an electric vehicle should not be judged on how much electricity it consumes, but rather the lifecycle energy savings it offers over a gas-powered vehicle,” EESI adds. ComEd’s EV adoption efforts, for example, are complemented by its commitment to a 100% clean energy purchase plan.
The beneficial electrification movement has a tougher row to hoe these days, considering the current state of panic touched off by the data center construction boom. Trump’s drill-and-dig energy policy isn’t helping, either.
Nevertheless, solutions are emerging. The global consulting firm ICF is among those advocating for beneficial electrification against the incoming tide of fossil fuels supported by Trump’s “American Energy Dominance” plan.
“Beneficial electrification is replacing fossil fuel use with electricity in a way that reduces emissions and energy costs,” ICF reminds everyone.
“The term ‘beneficial’ is multifaceted—ensuring environmental stewardship, economic prudence for utility customers, and tangible benefits for participants,” ICF adds.
Too bad the White House isn’t listening. If you have any thoughts about that, drop a note in the comment thread. Better yet, find your representatives in Congress and let them know what you think.
Photo (cropped): A beneficial electrification strategy is behind ComEd’s new $168 million EV adoption plan, focusing on EV uptake among fleet owners as well as individual households. (courtesy of ComEd).
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