Dive Brief:
- Commonwealth Edison has introduced an online marketplace of energy-saving devices, rolling out the new web store alongside the start of the holiday shopping season.
- The Chicago-based utility is using Simple Energy's platform to power the ComEd Marketplace, attempting to reposition itself as more than just a provider of energy by also selling products and other services.
- Available products include smart thermostats, advanced power strips, energy efficient light bulbs and other products, which are offered alongside details of available rebates.
Dive Insight:
A 6-pack of LED lightbulbs may not top shopping lists, but ComEd this week looked to tap into the billions spent on "Cyber Monday," launching its store in a bid to expand the services it offers and embrace a changing business model.
Anne Pramaggiore, President and CEO of ComEd, said in a statement that the plan is for the marketplace to evolve over time "as a cornerstone of our utility where our customers can transact with us and other parties for a wide range of energy-related products and services.”
ComEd said its marketplace is unique in offering "instant, point-of-purchase rebates on a curated set of competitively-priced energy management products, integrated customer support, and end-to-end fulfillment." Available products include devices made by Nest, Ecobee and Honeywell, and go beyond energy to include home security as well.
ComEd has been undertaking efforts to reform its grid and business model, expanding the services it provides in a bid to become the "Utility of the Future." You can read more on its efforts here, in an interview Utility Dive did with Pramaggiore in the spring. The utility is rolling out millions of smart meters, and is examining what role expanded microgrids can play in its future.
Earlier this year, ComEd introduced an automated method for customers to report outages via Twitter. Also last year, the utility expanded customer choices for receiving communications and eliminated a processing charge on some types of customer payments. New York's Rochester Gas & Electric also selected Simple Energy's marketplace last year.
