ComEd Restoring Power in Wake of Thunderstorms, Second Round of Severe Storms in Three Days

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd crews are working to restore power to more than 370,000 customers in the wake of a dangerous line of thunderstorms that swept through northern Illinois this morning -- just hours after ComEd had completed restoration of service to customers impacted by a severe storm on Sunday. Wind gusts of up to 96 MPH -- and potential tornadoes -- downed trees, power lines and utility poles throughout ComEd’s northern Illinois region. Currently, there are more than 257,000 customers without electric service. Based on current conditions, ComEd estimates that approximately 80% of outages will be restored by noon on Aug. 13 and approximately 99% by 11 p.m. on Aug. 15.

“Nearly 3,000 ComEd employees and contractors are in the field assessing damage, repairing equipment and restoring service as safely and quickly as possible. While crews and equipment, including poles, cable wire and transformers were pre-positioned ahead of the storm, damage across the region is extensive,” said David Perez, ComEd’s executive vice president and COO.

The largest impacts from Tuesday's storms were concentrated in ComEd's south region, where crews are dealing with downed trees, broken poles, and damaged power lines requiring extensive repairs. Hardest-hit areas include Homewood, Chicago Heights, Lansing and Joliet, among others. The National Weather Service is forecasting another round of storms for the ComEd region on Wednesday.

Restoration Priorities

ComEd crews work on restoring power to customers in the following order:

• Downed live wires or potentially life-threatening situations. High-voltage transmission lines and equipment, to restore service to the largest number of affected customers.
• Critical public health and safety facilities, like hospitals, police and fire stations, and water treatment plants.
• Major distribution lines and high-density housing.
• ​Any remaining smaller neighborhoods and individual homes that have not been restored by prior repair activities.

Historic Summer Storm Season

The August 9-11 storms mark the 19th major weather event affecting ComEd customers in 2026 — the highest number in more than two decades. Illinois has now recorded more tornadoes this year than any other state in the country. 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 quickly when severe weather strikes.

Stay Safe

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

• If a downed power line is spotted, immediately call ComEd 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.com/OutageMap.

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 new Outage Tracker, customers can report outages, check estimated time of restoration, and view crew status updates: 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.