Latest news with #MelissaWashington
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ComEd Energy Efficiency Program Exceeds 2024 Goals of Saving Customers 13 Million MWhs of Electricity
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 2024, the award-winning ComEd Energy Efficiency Program helped customers save over 13 million megawatt hours (MWhs) of electricity, surpassing state law requirements. Since 2012, installed energy-efficiency measures have continued to deliver savings. This resulted in nearly $1.3 billion in electric bill savings for customers last year, according to ComEd. The energy-saving results are based on an independent evaluation of the ComEd program conducted by Guidehouse, a global consulting and managed services provider. With the average monthly residential customer bill in the ComEd service territory projected to increase by approximately $10.60 in June, the result of the annual PJM Interconnection capacity auction held last year, the evaluation shows the ComEd program continues to effectively assist customers in managing their energy consumption and maintaining control over electricity costs. 'ComEd recognizes the challenge posed by rising supply costs effective in June,' said Melissa Washington, senior vice president of customer operations and strategic initiatives for ComEd. 'Although we can't control this increase, we offer energy-efficiency options to help customers manage their energy costs and connect them to grants and bill-support options. The fact that customers are taking advantage of these options highlights their importance.' The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, funded in accordance with state law, offers services, incentives, and rebates to assist families and businesses in reducing costs and improving energy usage. In 2024, the program: provided ComEd residential and business customers with over $277 million in incentives through rebates and discounts on energy-efficiency measures and projects. increased the comfort and efficiency of more than 53,000 multi-family units by installing insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, and other measures at no cost to the residents. saved business customers more than 754,000 MWhs of electricity, amounting to over $79 million in bill savings, with an estimated total savings of 9.6 million MWh over the expected life of those measures, totaling more than $1 billion. saved residential customers over 1 million MWhs of electricity, resulting in over $170 million in bill savings, with an estimated total savings of 13.2 million MWh over the expected life of those measures, totaling nearly $2.2 billion. enabled over 161,000 income-eligible customers to save more than 730,000 MWhs, equating to nearly $123 million in annual bill savings. Income-eligible customers are also expected to realize estimated total savings of 10 million MWhs over the life of these measures, totaling more than $1.6 billion. 'By taking advantage of energy efficiency programs, customers can meaningfully reduce their energy bills,' said Paige Knutsen, executive director of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA). 'Energy efficiency programs support thousands of strong, local jobs and help make our communities' homes and businesses more comfortable and resilient.' Since 2008, the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, one of the largest and longest-running of its kind, has saved customers over $11 billion on electric bills and more than 99 million megawatt-hours of electricity. This is equivalent to: avoiding over 74 billion pounds of carbon emissions, removing nearly 8 million cars from the road, and planting about 34 million acres of trees. ComEd also provides various bill-assistance options, such as budget billing, payment arrangements, and federal grants through LIHEAP. So far this year, ComEd has helped over 114,000 customers access nearly $22 million in financial assistance and other support programs. Customers can visit to find both energy-efficiency and bill-assistance options for which they may qualify.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ComEd Launches EV Ambassador Program to Expand EV Adoption in Northern Illinois
Community ambassadors will lead education and awareness around EV adoption at summer events in northern Illinois CHICAGO, May 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To expand efforts to support customers considering making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs), ComEd today announced the launch of its new EV Ambassador Program, a community-driven initiative designed to expand education and awareness around EV adoption and benefits in northern Illinois. The program will launch with the introduction of three local partner organizations: Equiticity, Bronzeville Community Development Partnership and A Step Beyond NFP. EV Ambassadors through this program will engage directly with residents and local businesses through community events, presentations and pop-up EV demonstrations throughout the summer. "Switching to an EV can come with a variety of benefits, including fuel cost savings and reduced environmental impact. We are committed to helping our customers reap the benefits of this transition and ensure they understand the resources available to them as they consider EV options," said Melissa Washington, senior vice president of customer operations and strategic initiatives at ComEd. "ComEd launched this new EV Ambassador program to better reach customers where they are, increase the visibility of our offerings and connect communities who will see the greatest benefits of EVs with the correct resources." The EV Ambassador Program is part of ComEd's broader Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, which provides customers with resources and financial rebates to support the transition to cleaner transportation. ComEd's BE funding launched in its 2023 BE Plan, and funding has been extended through 2028 with the recent approval of ComEd's second BE Plan. Through the new EV Ambassador initiative, ambassadors will interact with community members and businesses to connect them with ComEd rebate programs, EV Dealership network, EV Toolkit and more. "I'm honored to serve as a ComEd EV Ambassador, and excited to spread the wealth of knowledge that empowers our communities to embrace cleaner energy, reduce our carbon footprint and build a brighter, healthier future for our city. Together, we can make meaningful change, one conversation, one home and one neighborhood at a time," said Nicole Wheatly, Founder and Executive Director of A Step Beyond NFP. "Bronzeville Community Development Partnership and JitneyEV are pleased to participate as ComEd EV Ambassadors. This program aligns with our mission of accelerating the EV transition, especially in historically underserved communities where health and air quality are negatively impacted by proximity to expressways and industrial corridors. One of the biggest barriers to EV adoption is lack of awareness about the economic and health benefits of EV transportation," said William Davis, Executive Director at Bronzeville Community Development Partnership. "Equiticity is pleased to partner with ComEd on their new EV Ambassador Program. We look forward to our work together to ensure Black and Brown neighborhoods are experiencing the range of benefits from increased adoption of electric transportation," said Olatunji Oboi Reed, President and CEO of Equiticity. Community members can meet with ComEd's EV Ambassadors and experience EV technology firsthand at a variety of events this summer including: - Oak Park Farmer's Market: May 31 - Broadview Village Hall Community EV Presentation: May 31 - Rockford Community Market: June 5 - Heartland Alliance 'Vital Bridges' Community Event: June 13 - Transport Chicago 2025: June 13 - Park Forest EV Car Show: June 25 - Cars at Lincoln Commons: June 28 Additional events will be added to the EV Ambassador Program schedule throughout the year, and information can be found at The Ambassador organizations were selected through a rigorous application and interview process to ensure that each represented organization would have a strong interest in sustainability and credibility in their respective communities. Each participating Ambassador organization will be awarded a small stipend for their participation in 2025 and ComEd hopes to continue this program in future years. The launch of the ComEd EV Ambassador program builds on existing commitments from the utility to support EV adoption for its customers. In February, ComEd announced at least $100 million rebates available to customers in 2025 to help more customers take steps toward EV adoption. To reduce the cost barriers to EVs, the rebates cover three distinct programs: residential EV charger and installation costs, all-electric fleet vehicles and business and public sector make ready charging costs. To date, ComEd has awarded $30 million in rebates this year funding nearly 5,000 public and private EV charging ports (L2 and DC Fast Chargers) and incentivizing the lease or purchase of nearly 1,000 new and pre-owned electric fleet vehicles. A majority of the funds, 85% has been awarded to customers residing in, or primarily doing business in Equity Investment Eligible (EIEC) communities. All of ComEd's EV programming puts equity front and center, with more than half of the total rebate funds reserved for low-income customers and equity-eligible communities, and the majority of community education and awareness events taking place in equity-eligible communities. For more information on EV resources and programs offered by ComEd, please visit ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company serving more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers—the largest number of customers in the U.S. 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 and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. 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Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
ComEd Launches EV Ambassador Program to Expand EV Adoption in Northern Illinois
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To expand efforts to support customers considering making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs), ComEd today announced the launch of its new EV Ambassador Program, a community-driven initiative designed to expand education and awareness around EV adoption and benefits in northern Illinois. The program will launch with the introduction of three local partner organizations: Equiticity, Bronzeville Community Development Partnership and A Step Beyond NFP. EV Ambassadors through this program will engage directly with residents and local businesses through community events, presentations and pop-up EV demonstrations throughout the summer. 'Switching to an EV can come with a variety of benefits, including fuel cost savings and reduced environmental impact. We are committed to helping our customers reap the benefits of this transition and ensure they understand the resources available to them as they consider EV options,' said Melissa Washington, senior vice president of customer operations and strategic initiatives at ComEd. 'ComEd launched this new EV Ambassador program to better reach customers where they are, increase the visibility of our offerings and connect communities who will see the greatest benefits of EVs with the correct resources.' The EV Ambassador Program is part of ComEd's broader Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, which provides customers with resources and financial rebates to support the transition to cleaner transportation. ComEd's BE funding launched in its 2023 BE Plan, and funding has been extended through 2028 with the recent approval of ComEd's second BE Plan. Through the new EV Ambassador initiative, ambassadors will interact with community members and businesses to connect them with ComEd rebate programs, EV Dealership network, EV Toolkit and more. 'I'm honored to serve as a ComEd EV Ambassador, and excited to spread the wealth of knowledge that empowers our communities to embrace cleaner energy, reduce our carbon footprint and build a brighter, healthier future for our city. Together, we can make meaningful change, one conversation, one home and one neighborhood at a time,' said Nicole Wheatly, Founder and Executive Director of A Step Beyond NFP. 'Bronzeville Community Development Partnership and JitneyEV are pleased to participate as ComEd EV Ambassadors. This program aligns with our mission of accelerating the EV transition, especially in historically underserved communities where health and air quality are negatively impacted by proximity to expressways and industrial corridors. One of the biggest barriers to EV adoption is lack of awareness about the economic and health benefits of EV transportation,' said William Davis, Executive Director at Bronzeville Community Development Partnership. 'Equiticity is pleased to partner with ComEd on their new EV Ambassador Program. We look forward to our work together to ensure Black and Brown neighborhoods are experiencing the range of benefits from increased adoption of electric transportation,' said Olatunji Oboi Reed, President and CEO of Equiticity. Community members can meet with ComEd's EV Ambassadors and experience EV technology firsthand at a variety of events this summer including: - Oak Park Farmer's Market: May 31 - Broadview Village Hall Community EV Presentation: May 31 - Rockford Community Market: June 5 - Heartland Alliance 'Vital Bridges' Community Event: June 13 - Transport Chicago 2025: June 13 - Park Forest EV Car Show: June 25 - Cars at Lincoln Commons: June 28 Additional events will be added to the EV Ambassador Program schedule throughout the year, and information can be found at The Ambassador organizations were selected through a rigorous application and interview process to ensure that each represented organization would have a strong interest in sustainability and credibility in their respective communities. Each participating Ambassador organization will be awarded a small stipend for their participation in 2025 and ComEd hopes to continue this program in future years. The launch of the ComEd EV Ambassador program builds on existing commitments from the utility to support EV adoption for its customers. In February, ComEd announced at least $100 million rebates available to customers in 2025 to help more customers take steps toward EV adoption. To reduce the cost barriers to EVs, the rebates cover three distinct programs: residential EV charger and installation costs, all-electric fleet vehicles and business and public sector make ready charging costs. To date, ComEd has awarded $30 million in rebates this year funding nearly 5,000 public and private EV charging ports (L2 and DC Fast Chargers) and incentivizing the lease or purchase of nearly 1,000 new and pre-owned electric fleet vehicles. A majority of the funds, 85% has been awarded to customers residing in, or primarily doing business in Equity Investment Eligible (EIEC) communities. All of ComEd's EV programming puts equity front and center, with more than half of the total rebate funds reserved for low-income customers and equity-eligible communities, and the majority of community education and awareness events taking place in equity-eligible communities. For more information on EV resources and programs offered by ComEd, please visit
Associated Press
19-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
SEPA Announces 2025-2026 Board Leadership and Welcomes New Board Member
Washington, D.C., May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), a leading national nonprofit accelerating the U.S. transition to a clean, affordable, and resilient electricity system, today announced its 2025-2026 Board of Directors leadership team and the appointment of a new board member. Guided by SEPA's foundational pillars—Grid, Growth, and Globe—these accomplished leaders will help support a values-driven mission to drive collaborative, member-focused solutions that ensure the clean energy transformation is inclusive, impactful, and grounded in real-world innovation. 2025–2026 SEPA Board Leadership Chair: Peter Muhoro, Ph.D. Chief Strategy, Technology & Innovation Officer, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Dr. Muhoro, an internationally recognized voice in utility innovation, grid modernization, and equitable energy access, will guide SEPA's efforts to expand global engagement and leverage international best practices to drive innovation across the electric sector. 'One of SEPA's greatest strengths is its ability to connect people, ideas, and innovations,' said Dr. Muhoro. 'As Board Chair, I am committed to advancing solutions that move the industry beyond incremental change while ensuring that energy is delivered safely, affordably, reliably, and sustainably. I believe in building cross-border bridges to make the energy transition both inclusive and impactful.' Chair Elect: Melissa Washington Senior Vice President, Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives, ComEd A trailblazing executive with a strong record of aligning utility strategy with customer needs, operational excellence, and public policy, Washington brings a vital people-first perspective to SEPA's work. As Chair Elect, she will play a key role in steering national conversations around demand management, affordability, and inclusive energy solutions. Treasurer: Seth Frader-Thompson President & Co-Founder, EnergyHub A pioneer in distributed energy resource (DER) management and demand-side innovation, Frader-Thompson has redefined how utilities engage with customers to enhance grid reliability. As Treasurer, he will help ensure strong financial stewardship while offering valuable expertise on grid-edge intelligence, customer participation, and long-term system resilience. Secretary: Scott Harden SVP, Chief Technology Officer - Home & Distribution Software, Schneider Electric A global leader in climate technology and industrial digitization, Harden brings deep technical expertise and a future-focused mindset to SEPA's Board. As Secretary, he will support SEPA's efforts to embed emerging technologies, AI-driven solutions, and scalable business models into its education programs, research initiatives, and member resources. Governance Committee Chair: Hannah Bascom Chief Growth and Commercial Officer, Uplight A respected leader at the intersection of flexibility management, customer engagement, and market transformation, Bascom delivers innovative solutions that improve grid resiliency, reduce costs for customers and utilities, and accelerate decarbonization. As Governance Committee Chair, her experience in electrification, DERs, and policy partnerships will help SEPA align customer-driven strategies with a rapidly evolving energy landscape. At-Large: Bryan Hannegan President and CEO, Holy Cross Energy From federal research to frontline utility operations, Hannegan brings a depth of experience that connects big-picture energy strategy with local, real-world implementation. His expertise in renewable integration, grid planning, and multi-stakeholder engagement will help SEPA deliver actionable and scalable clean energy solutions for its members. At-Large: Alice Jackson Vice President of Grid Modeling, Breakthrough Energy A leader in utility transformation and long-range system planning, Jackson has held executive roles across generation, transmission, and distribution. Her expertise in energy policy, resource planning, and load forecasting will help SEPA anticipate infrastructure needs and support members through the demands of an electrified economy. New Board Member Appointment Salim (Sal) Salet Vice President of Distribution Operations, PPL Electric Utilities Salet joins the SEPA Board with extensive experience in engineering, smart grid infrastructure, and operational excellence. His leadership in modernizing distribution systems and integrating clean energy solutions will help advance SEPA's mission to build a smarter, more reliable grid. 'I am honored to join my esteemed colleagues on SEPA's Board of Directors during such an exciting and challenging time for the energy sector,' said Salet. 'I look forward to collaborating with the group to meet challenges and advance strategic goals around decarbonization and building the grid of the future.' 'We're thrilled to welcome Sal to SEPA's Board of Directors,' said Sheri Givens, President and CEO of SEPA. 'His ten-plus years of operations experience and deep understanding of the Mid-Atlantic region bring fresh perspective and real-world insight to our work. His leadership will be a valuable asset as we continue driving practical, scalable solutions for our members. The collective expertise of our Board—in grid modernization, customer engagement, policy, and global innovation—will be instrumental as we execute SEPA's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. With their guidance, SEPA is well positioned to accelerate a clean energy transition that is resilient, equitable, and affordable for all.' About SEPA: The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), a 501(c)(3) organization with over 1,000 members, drives collaboration across the electric power industry to accelerate the transition to a clean, affordable, and resilient electricity system for all. SEPA brings together utilities, policymakers, regulators, and technology providers through education, convening, and applied research to shape innovative solutions. For more information, visit Natalie Goldfarb Smart Electric Power Alliance 771-213-6988 [email protected]
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
ComEd, Partners Announce the Return of Summer Job Training for Teens
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ComEd today joined workforce partners the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago in announcing the return of the CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Youth Academy, a paid summer career exposure program for high school students interested in careers in the construction and energy fields. The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy is back this summer for a third time across the Chicagoland area, with classes set to begin in both June and July. As the school year comes to a close, ComEd is encouraging interested students to apply now through YMCA or Goodwill. With as many as 150,000 jobs coming to Illinois by 2050 to support the clean energy transition, the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy is one way ComEd is offering opportunities for local youth to prepare for roles in the fast-growing clean energy sector. 'ComEd and our partners are committed to ensuring that our youth are aware of the wide variety of in demand and good-paying careers in the energy sector that deliver reliable power to more than 9 million people across northern Illinois,' said Melissa Washington, SVP of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives. 'It is through youth-centered programs, like the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy, that we are reaching our future workforce and expanding a skilled and diverse talent pool that will be key to delivering a cleaner and brighter future for our communities.' During the three-week program, teens learn about the wide range of careers in energy, from entry-level craft positions to roles in STEM, such as engineering and more. Students study key equipment used to manage the power grid, learn about drones and EVs, and even meet with company leaders. Participants also learn how to safely use hand tools and put their newfound construction skills to the test by building dressers for underserved communities. In addition, past program graduates have the opportunity to return as Junior Mentors for the new incoming program cohorts. New to the program, ComEd offered graduates of last year's class, who are now seniors, a CONSTRUCT Youth Academy Spring Break session in which they dove into a career readiness curriculum involving a pole-climbing clinic and test preparation for the industry-required Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) exam. This extension of the program will continue to be offered for future graduates, allowing participants interested in the trades to prepare for entry-level roles and get a leg up on their career search upon high school graduation. This year's CONSTRUCT Youth Academy participants will attend classroom sessions three times a week held across YMCA locations in Woodlawn, West Humboldt Park, and Little Village, and through Goodwill's Workforce Connection Center in Englewood. Through this collaboration, the program has been able to graduate more than 100 teens, reflecting the vibrant communities ComEd serves, with more than 70 percent being people of color and nearly 20 percent being young women. 'The Y is proud to partner with ComEd to deliver these enriching experiences for the youth that we serve,' said Agneis Schultz, Vice President of Community Innovation and Impact, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. 'By offering practical training and a first-hand look at many different jobs in the energy sector, the CONSTRUCT Youth Academy has empowered our participants to pursue career pathways that suit them best and set them up for future success.' 'Goodwill is equipping young adults throughout greater Chicago with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to pursue rewarding careers,' said Clayton Pryor, chief mission officer, Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago. 'The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy spotlights the opportunities and room for growth in the construction and energy fields that some youth may have never considered.' Eligible applicants must be rising high school juniors or seniors. The program will have two cohorts, the first beginning June 10, the second beginning July 8, and participants will receive a stipend upon program completion. Interested applicants can learn more details and apply through the YMCA here and through Goodwill here. Gabriel Gaytan is a 2024 CONSTRUCT Youth Academy graduate and will be returning this year as a Junior Mentor. 'The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy helped me look at my future in a completely different way – it really opened my eyes to so many jobs I can see myself working in,' said Gabriel. 'It was an amazing experience that gave me an advantage in knowing what skills and education I need to land a job in the energy field. I recommend this program to teens out there who want to explore more career options.' The CONSTRUCT Youth Academy builds on the success of the CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy, ComEd's premiere workforce development program, which has trained more than 900 local residents for roles in the construction and energy fields and placed more than 70 percent in entry-level jobs. ComEd offers a range of STEM education and job training programs, which last year reached more than 2,400 youth and adults. For more on ComEd education and career readiness programs, please visit About ComEd ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. 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 and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. About the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is a regional leader in accessible, inclusive programming for more than 300,000 individuals each year, strengthening community by connecting all people to their purpose, potential, and each other. The YMCA of Metro Chicago is evolving to become a 21st-century social enterprise, reaching our communities through 25 community hubs — including five overnight camps — and more than 100 extension sites throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. Learn more about the Y's locations and programming at About Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago enhances dignity and quality of life for all by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and connecting people to valuable employment and community resources. Learn more about the nonprofit's mission - Connecting people to work. Preparing people for life. - and find a Goodwill near you to shop and donate at
