ComEd Pursues Equity as it Decarbonizes

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) is one of the nation’s largest
utilities, serving Chicago. Last month, ComEd announced it is
spending $113 million a year on “income-tested programs” to slash
energy use and energy bills for those who can least afford them,
while combating climate change. 


In this episode of Grid Talk, host Marty Rosenberg talks with Gil
Quiniones who is the ComEd CEO. They’ll talk about initiatives to
make sure disadvantaged communities and historically underserved
communities are prioritized as the utility pursues
decarbonization.


“It’s not just really deploying technologies. It’s how do we
engage the community in the process of deploying those
technologies in terms of STEM programs with the local schools as
well as opportunities for workforce development, whether it’s
directly for trade-type, craft-type jobs or being a utility
professional engineer or scientist.”


Quiniones talks about opportunities related to the federal
government’s $80 billion infrastructure spend on energy.
Investing in communities is top priority.


“We want to make sure that we’re putting our customers at the
center of this transition.”


 You’ll also hear what ComEd is adding is it reimagines the
grid. 


Gil Quiniones was named CEO of ComEd in November of 2021 and
oversees utility decisions that impact more than four million
customers. Mr. Quiniones joined ComEd after spending a decade as
the president and CEO of the New York Power Authority, the
nation’s largest state-owned public power organization. He is an
internationally recognized leader in modernizing power grids, and
delivering clean, safe and affordable energy for customers,
leading to economic and environmental benefits for diverse
communities.


Mr. Quiniones holds a B.S. from De La Salle University in Manila.
In 2020, he earned a Corporate Director Certificate at Harvard
Business School.