In the near future, the Chicago-area electricity grid will meet demand during a heatwave by remotely turning up thermostats by a degree or two in households that choose to participate.
This adjustment—barely noticeable at the household level—would reduce the region’s electricity demand by the equivalent of several power plants, giving the grid the help it needs.
Illinois regulators approved the program last week, with plans to start operations in May 2027. It could be one of the largest virtual power plants in the country that relies on advanced thermostats. It’s the kind of thing every metro area should be doing.
Some basics of how the program works:
ComEd, the utility serving northern Illinois, is overseeing a smart thermostat program in which customers “bring their own device,” meaning companies that sell thermostats compete on price and technology to sell their products and customers get to choose what they want.
