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.