November 9
ComEd Recognizes First Graduates from EV Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Top consumer smart energy news hand-selected and brought to you by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.
Member News
ComEd and HIRE360 recognized the first class of graduates of the Take Charge: Pre-Apprenticeship program, which prepares Chicago-area residents for careers in Illinois’ electric vehicle (EV) industry. The new program, created by ComEd, is designed to grow the workforce to meet the evolving demands facing the grid due to EV adoption. Currently, there are 80,000 registered EVs statewide, and 70,000 registered in ComEd’s service territory alone, up from just over 19,000 statewide in 2019.
The Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) this week announced that four utility industry executives, representing a diverse group of companies, have been named to the organization’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. SECC’s governing board is comprised of 20 members who represent electricity providers, technology companies, consumer advocacy organizations and other industry stakeholders, along with SECC’s legal counsel and President & CEO Nathan Shannon.
The traditional business model regulated electric utilities have employed for decades is evolving as technologies change to meet customers’ needs, and Liberty – New Hampshire is leading the way. A forward-thinking, local, regulated electric distribution company, in 2018, Liberty launched a pilot battery storage program, and customers who took the plunge are gaining the rewards.
Last Thursday, Arizona Public Service (APS) announced it had filed a plan with the Arizona Corporation Commission to address energy needs for the next 15 years. The 2023 APS Integrated Resource Plan includes strategic planning intended to provide customers with reliable energy and what investments are necessary to address those needs. Working with its Resource Planning Advisory Council, APS said it held meetings and workshops over the last year to estimate what those needs.
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Industry News
Say you’re in the market for a home. You pop by an open house and marvel at the high ceilings, the granite countertops, the mudroom and laundry room. But what’s far easier to overlook is the insulation, weatherstripping, caulking, and heating and cooling systems. These and other elements that affect a home’s energy efficiency are often hiding in the walls, crawlspaces and basements, unloved and unexamined by prospective buyers.
Xcel Energy is dedicating a bigger share of its Minnesota solar incentives to lower-income customers in response to a new state law. Since launching in 2014, Solar Rewards has provided financial incentives to help thousands of Minnesota homeowners pay for small solar installations. Over the past five years, state lawmakers, regulators and the utility have gradually directed a larger share of Solar Rewards to income-qualified customers.
The era of electric vehicles (EVs) is here, and it’s evident they are not a fad. Most new vehicles sold globally will be electric in a few short years. I’ve already made the leap after purchasing a new vehicle. Although it’s great, there is one downside: I’m more vulnerable to power outages. Previously, a few hours or days without electricity disrupted my life. If I got desperate, I could drive to a coffee shop or a hotel.
For car buyers considering whether to go electric, one trade-off they must weigh is whether to give up the convenience of finding a gas station almost anywhere and being able to refuel in minutes. Fast-charging an EV can take 20 to 30 minutes, and charging stations, for now, are not ubiquitous. The gap between the two experiences is narrowing, however, as charge times speed up and stations become more common.
