Nearly 410,000 customer outages reported following severe storms that impacted all of northern Illinois

ComEd has restored power to approximately 99% of customers impacted by the Aug. 11-12 storms, nearly completing one of the company's largest restoration efforts of the year. More than 4,500 personnel, contractors and mutual assistance crews supported the response after destructive winds, tornadoes and repeated rounds of severe weather damaged electric infrastructure and disrupted service to nearly 410,000 customers.

Crews remain in the field restoring service to remaining customers and addressing damage identified as portions of the electric system are re-energized.

"This week’s storms were not an isolated event, but part of a historic summer of severe weather across northern Illinois," said David Perez, ComEd's executive vice president and COO. "We’re grateful for the patience of our customers and proud of the tremendous efforts of the thousands of employees, contractors and mutual assistance personnel who worked tirelessly to restore service safely. Their response highlights both the dedication of our workforce and the importance of building an electric system capable of withstanding increasingly frequent extreme weather."

ComEd crews received mutual assistance from sister utilities and regional partners, including overhead lineworkers and control room personnel from PECO, PHI and Ameren, helping accelerate restoration efforts across northern Illinois while navigating periods of rain and scattered thunderstorms.

The most significant impacts from the Aug. 11 storms were concentrated in ComEd's south region, including communities such as Homewood, Flossmoor, Lansing, Chicago Heights, Mokena, Tinley Park, Joliet, Ford Heights, Glenwood and Lynwood. Across these communities, severe winds and tornado activity uprooted mature trees, blocked roadways, damaged homes and businesses, snapped utility poles and brought down power lines, requiring complex and time-intensive repairs.

In the hardest-hit Southland communities, crews encountered extensive transmission system damage, including broken poles, damaged equipment and downed wire that required complex repairs before neighborhood restoration could begin. Transmission lines serve as the backbone of the electric grid and must be repaired before power can flow to substations and local distribution networks. Crews restored all damaged transmission segments, allowing restoration efforts to advance at the neighborhood level. Nearly 130 crews and five specialized feeder repair teams remained dedicated to restoration work in these communities throughout the response.

The Aug. 11-12 storms mark the 20th major weather event affecting ComEd customers in 2026, the highest number experienced in more than two decades. ComEd's northern Illinois service territory has now experienced more than 52 confirmed tornadoes this year, reflecting one of the most active severe weather years on record for the region. Illinois has recorded 207 tornadoes in 2026, more than any other state in the nation.

ComEd's continued investments in grid modernization and smart grid technology have helped avoid millions of potential outages over the past decade and strengthened the company's ability to respond more efficiently when severe weather strikes.

Safety Reminders

Public safety is paramount, and ComEd encourages customers to take the following precautions:

If a downed power line is spotted, call ComEd immediately at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661). Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous.
In the event of an outage, do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power to ask about restoration times. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment, and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous.
For the latest outage and restoration information, visit ComEd’s outage map at ComEd.com/Map.

ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information and follow the company on X @ComEd or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComEd. Customers can also call 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at ComEd.com/Report. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).

With ComEd’s Outage Tracker, customers can report outages, check estimated restoration times, view crew status, and explore ComEd’s outage map. Visit ComEd.com/OutageTracker.

ComEd’s mobile app for iPhone and Android^® smart phones gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts; download the app at ComEd.com/App.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving nearly 11 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information, visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

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ComEd Media Relations

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