In an effort to cut energy use, reduce operational costs and return savings to taxpayers, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) participated in ComEd’s Energy Efficiency Program, and in six years, the MWRD earned more than $400,000 in energy efficiency incentives.

The MWRD recently received a check for $423,111.03, which includes nearly $200,000 in savings achieved in 2024 for energy reduction measures taken at the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) in Skokie. O’Brien WRP staff spent months analyzing operations and implementing efficiencies as part of ComEd’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program. These improvements cut electricity usage by nearly 3.3 million kilowatt hours. The O’Brien plant joins the Egan and Kirie WRPs, which have already implemented successful SEM strategies to lower energy use and earned similar incentives.

Through the SEM program, MWRD staff worked with ComEd and Cascade Energy to assess hundreds of treatment operations at their respective plants. These energy treasure hunts uncovered fixes ranging from simple leak repairs to adjustments in aeration usage—key areas that can consume up to 40 percent of a plant’s energy budget. The improvements did not require major capital investment but instead focused on operational adjustments to existing equipment.

“The Strategic Energy Management program has been an educational and rewarding experience that protects taxpayer dollars while helping us improve daily operations,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “Thanks to the hard work of our staff at the Egan, Kirie, and now O’Brien plants, we are demonstrating how water treatment can be more sustainable and cost-effective.”

For decades, the MWRD has been creating clean, renewable energy from organic material removed from wastewater. Biogas produced in anaerobic digesters is used to fuel boilers which produce steam or hot water to heat buildings and processes at the WRPs. This renewable biogas offsets part of the MWRD’s natural gas usage needs and is now being assessed as part of a strategy to achieve energy neutrality by reducing consumption and expanding renewable energy use. 

At the Egan WRP in Schaumburg, since 2022 MWRD staff have saved over 1.2 million kilowatt hours and earned close to $70,000 in incentives. At the Kirie WRP in Des Plaines, MWRD staff found ways to cut more than 1.6 million kilowatt hours since 2023 and earned an additional $112,000. These actions helped reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. The MWRD is now preparing to expand this initiative to the Calumet WRP, one of its largest facilities. As the program continues, incentive checks are expected to grow even larger.

Since 2019, the MWRD has collaborated with ComEd Energy Efficiency Programs on a variety of energy efficiency projects at the MWRD’s Egan, Kirie, O’Brien and Stickney plants. Together, these projects resulted in a reduction of 7 giga-watt hours of energy, which is enough energy to power 813 homes with electricity for a year. In environmental terms, this annual energy reduction is the equivalent of reducing more than 5 million pounds of carbon emissions, which equates to removing 555 cars from the road, or planting nearly 2,400 acres of trees.

“ComEd’s award-winning Energy Efficiency Program continues to enhance affordability for ComEd customers, especially organizations like the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District that take advantage of the generous incentives we offer,” said ComEd President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones. “The $423,111 check reduces the cost of its energy efficiency projects, and those projects will in turn deliver long-term savings for taxpayers and residents of the Chicago area.”

In recognition of its commitment to sustainability, the MWRD was named a Utility of the Future Today by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies in 2023, its third time receiving the national honor. In 2024, the International Water Association’s Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme lauded the MWRD for its “inspiring” Climate Action Plan and work to lower carbon emissions, placing it among the top three finalists out of a field of more than 90 water utilities from across the globe.

“We thank our staff for their diligence and innovation in identifying new ways to save energy,” said MWRD Chairman Marcelino Garcia. “This partnership with ComEd is setting a new standard for public utilities committed to protecting both the environment and taxpayer resources.”

The SEM program reflects MWRD’s broader mission of resource recovery and environmental stewardship. By blending innovation with day-to-day operational excellence, the MWRD is helping ensure a more efficient and resilient water system for the future.

Learn more about SEM and ComEd’s Energy Efficiency Programs.