ComEd, which will deploy its first smart meter in the western suburbs in North Riverside, expects to install 60,000 smart meters by the end of 2013, while full deployment is expected to be completed in 2021.
A smart meter uses two-way radio communications to collect energy usage information.
ComEd customer operations senior vice president Val Jensen said that smart meters will deliver the benefits of the smart grid directly to customers’ homes and businesses.
"Customers will be able to take greater control of their energy use to become more energy efficient. When fully functional, smart meters will also alert ComEd to power outages automatically and help pinpoint the source of problems, allowing us to restore outages faster," Jensen added.