ComEd's Award-Winning Campaign Delivers Millions in Energy Savings

CHICAGO, IL – February 02, 2026 – A strategic collaboration between utility giant ComEd and clean energy firm Walker-Miller Energy Services is earning high praise for its innovative approach to delivering energy savings where they are needed most. The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) recently honored the two companies with a prestigious Inspiring Efficiency Marketing Award, recognizing a campaign that successfully distributed approximately 20,000 free Energy Saving Kits to income-eligible households across northern Illinois.

The program, which leveraged targeted digital outreach and a streamlined online portal, is credited with saving customers nearly $3 million on their combined utility bills. This achievement not only highlights a successful marketing strategy but also underscores a growing trend in the energy sector: using technology and strategic partnerships to bridge the energy divide and promote social equity.

Reimagining Engagement Through Data and Design

At the heart of the award-winning campaign was a deliberate shift away from traditional, broad-based outreach. In 2025, ComEd and Walker-Miller, the program's implementation contractor, pioneered a new strategy rooted in precision and accessibility. By harnessing ComEd’s market segmentation data, the partners were able to identify and directly contact income-eligible customers who were most likely to benefit from the program but may have been previously unaware of the opportunity.

This data-driven approach powered a targeted email marketing campaign that informed customers about the free kits and educated them on the potential cost savings. Instead of requiring complex paperwork or in-person sign-ups, the campaign directed customers to a secure, mobile-friendly web portal. The portal featured a simple three-step request process that could be completed on any device, removing significant barriers to participation.

“MEEA is very proud to present the Inspiring Efficiency Marketing Award to ComEd and Walker-Miller Energy Services for reimagining customer engagement through their Energy Saving Kit campaign—making energy efficiency accessible, convenient, and impactful for thousands of income-qualified households,” said MEEA Executive Director Paige Knutsen. This recognition from MEEA, which selected the program as one of only nine awardees at its annual conference, validates the effectiveness of using modern marketing tools for social good.

A Partnership for Energy Equity

The collaboration with Walker-Miller Energy Services was instrumental in the program's focus on equity. Headquartered in Detroit, Walker-Miller is one of the nation's largest African American and woman-owned energy efficiency companies and a certified B Corporation, legally bound to consider the impact of its decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, the community, and the environment. Their mission is centered on ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition, from jobs to lower energy bills, are accessible to all communities.

This partnership brought a deep understanding of community engagement and a commitment to addressing the 'energy burden'—the disproportionately high percentage of income that low-income households spend on energy. By prioritizing these households, the campaign ensured that vital energy-saving resources were distributed to those facing the greatest financial pressures.

“As leaders in clean energy equity and inclusive community engagement, we are committed to ensuring every community benefits from the transformative impact of clean energy. We deeply appreciate the partnership of ComEd as we work together to serve the broader community with meaningful, equitable impact,” stated Carla Walker-Miller, Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services. “We are truly changing lives, and I could not be prouder of our team members.”

The Tangible Impact of an Energy Kit

For the thousands of families who received a complimentary kit, the impact was both immediate and tangible. Each package contained a curated selection of easy-to-install products designed to reduce household energy consumption. The kits included high-efficiency LED light bulbs, energy-saving night lights, and a suite of weatherization products such as weatherstripping, rope caulk, and door sweeps to seal air leaks.

While seemingly simple, the collective impact of these installations is substantial. ComEd estimates the campaign resulted in over 12,300 megawatt-hours of electricity savings and 724,200 therms of natural gas savings. These reductions in energy consumption directly translate to lower utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint for the entire region.

“ComEd is dedicated to expanding access to programs that can reduce energy use in ways that help the environment, while reducing the energy burden for those who need it most,” said Philip Roy, ComEd’s director of Clean Energy Solutions. “We’re proud to be recognized for expanding the benefits of energy-efficient technology across northern Illinois so that all customers have access to energy-efficiency measures that can save them money and energy.”

A Decade of Savings and a Greener Future

The success of the Energy Saving Kits program is a significant milestone within a much larger and long-standing initiative. This award builds on the sustained success of ComEd's comprehensive energy-efficiency program, which has been in operation since 2008. Over more than a decade, the program has become one of the nation's largest, delivering over $12 billion in savings to customer energy bills.

The cumulative environmental impact is equally impressive. The program has reduced electricity consumption by a total of 103 million megawatt-hours—an amount of energy savings comparable to preventing more than 77 billion pounds of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. To put that figure in perspective, it is the environmental equivalent of planting more than 35 million acres of trees.

ComEd has been a frequent recipient of MEEA awards in recent years, earning recognition for innovation in electrification, investments in low-income health and safety, and educational programs for service providers. This consistent acknowledgment highlights a deep-seated, long-term commitment to a greener and more affordable energy future for all residents of northern Illinois.