This week, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC or Commission) launched NextGrid, an initiative to explore the utility of the future. It will be an 18-month statewide collaborative aimed at transforming Illinois’ energy landscape and economy. The study will focus on finding new technologies, utility business models and regulatory strategies to transform the state’s grid into
ComEd
Legislators Override Veto; Supporting Smart Grid in Illinois
The quest to bring the smart grid to Illinois did not stop with the first veto override of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act in 2011. In many respects it fueled the clash between regulators, utilities and Governor Quinn. Enter Senate Bill 9 ending the debate. It is designed to:
(i) be a restatement and clarification…
Smart Grid Customer Awareness and Education in Illinois
In the past, customer education typically meant nothing more than a bill insert and perhaps an additional public notice. Then came the smart grid and suddenly more is required… much more. Ameren Illinois conducted a quantitative study to measure its customers’ baseline awareness about AMI. Key findings revealed:
- 63% of customers have heard the term
…
ComEd Customers Sue to Get Smart Meters
Not far from the City of Naperville, where smart meter opposition is in full force, customers in Chicago have filed a class action suit against ComEd due to smart meter delay! No, this is not a tardy April Fool’s joke. Several ComEd customers allege the Company violated an Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) order that called…
Smart Grid Battle in Illinois Continues
Most people in the industry agree the electric infrastructure is outdated and requires extensive upgrades. It’s when you get to the “How?” and “Who pays for it?” that the war begins in many jurisdictions. And if you think that having a law that supports the upgrades and implementation of the smart grid settles the matter…
A New Social Energy App Has Landed! Facebook Helps Customers Save Money
Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Opower along with 16 utilities recently launched a social energy app to help customers become more energy efficient. Leveraging the Facebook platform, the app allows people to quickly and easily start benchmarking their home’s energy usage against similar homes, compare energy use with friends, enter energy-saving competitions and…
Smart Grid is Coming to Illinois: Lawmakers Override Veto
Fresh off of an overnight flight from attending the SmartEnergy International Summit in San Francisco, my cell phone rings this morning. It’s my mother with breaking news: “Hi Linda, I am calling to let you know we are getting the smart grid!” “Really.” “Yep. They voted to override the governor. Now I know you are…
ComEd’s President testifies on the need for Smart Grid Investments and Utility Cost Recovery
On March 8, 2011, ComEd’s president, Anne Pramaggiore, testified before Illinois lawmakers on the urgent need to enact The Infrastructure Modernization Act. “We live our lives and conduct our business on the grid,” said Pramaggiore, as she describes a customer’s experience during a winter storm. “A few days after the blizzard of February 2011…