Illinois Utilities Come Together to Create More Opportunities for Diverse Suppliers
June 11 2015 - 02:09PM
Business Wire
New Utilities Business Diversity Council
Focused on Collaboration and Best Practices
Illinois utility leaders announced today the formation of the
Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council designed to grow
business opportunities for diverse suppliers through closer
collaboration, technical development and sharing of best
practices.
The Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council members
include Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Illinois American Water, Nicor Gas,
North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas. In 2014, these companies spent a
combined total of approximately $698 million on goods and services
provided by minority, women and veteran-owned businesses. In
addition, the companies spent approximately $440 million with small
businesses.
Growth in utilities’ spend with diverse suppliers is due in part
to the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA) or “Smart
Grid Bill” enacted in 2011, and the Natural Gas Consumer, Safety
& Reliability Act enacted in 2013. As a result, Illinois
utilities are undertaking a massive upgrade to the state’s aging
energy delivery infrastructure, installing new technologies and
equipment to reduce outages, improve reliability, and provide
customers with programs to manage and save energy.
“Illinois utilities are making investments to modernize and
improve their infrastructure, which is creating opportunities to
expand our diverse supplier base. The formation of this
Council will support the utilities’ efforts in driving
collaboration, development and utilization of diverse businesses,”
said Beth Reese, chief financial officer, AGL Resources, and former
president of Nicor Gas, an AGL Resources subsidiary.
“ComEd has a long history of diverse supplier engagement, and
through the investments we’re making we have a great opportunity to
increase our spend with partners who are helping us to innovate and
create solutions that enhance our ability to add value to
customers,” said Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO, ComEd.
Illinois Commerce Commissioner Sherina E. Maye participated in
the event and is encouraged by the potential of the Council. “The
Illinois Commerce Commission is pleased the utilities, through this
Council, now have a forum that will help them collaboratively
increase procurement with diverse suppliers,” said
Commissioner Maye. “It is my hope that the Council will not only
support best practice sharing, but also serve as a resource to the
Commission and other stakeholders by keeping us apprised of common
trends, developments, challenges and solutions that will support
the continued growth of supplier diversity.”
“At Illinois American Water, we invest over $70 million a year
to upgrade our critical water and wastewater infrastructure,” said
Bruce Hauk, president of Illinois American Water. “We’re excited
about the opportunities the Council will offer to partner with
diverse businesses, help them grow and contribute to local and
regional economies.”
“Each of the participating companies has demonstrated that being
inclusive at every level leads to improved services for our
customers,” said Richard J. Mark, president of Ameren Illinois. “By
actively bringing diverse businesses into our supply chains, we’re
opening up new avenues for job creation and building stronger
communities throughout Illinois.”
Creating a uniform reporting system for expenditures with
diverse certified business across all services sought by utility
companies will be one of the first priorities for the new Council.
“Establishing a common framework through which we can more
effectively collaborate and measure the success of our efforts will
help all members in their efforts to engage certified diverse
suppliers,” said John Kleczynski, president, Peoples Gas and North
Shore Gas.
James H. Lowry, a nationally recognized workforce and supplier
diversity expert, has been working with the utilities to establish
the Council and will serve in an advisory capacity along with James
R. Monk, president of the Illinois Energy Association.
Once a year, the Council will submit a written report to inform
the Illinois Commerce Commission on activities and progress toward
meeting goals and objectives. The Council will also coordinate an
annual meeting for diverse businesses, legislators and the ICC, to
discuss the evolving state of diverse business growth spend in the
Illinois utilities industry. The Council will also place an
emphasis on helping the utilities with their respective procurement
goals for minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and small
business enterprises.
The Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council (IUBDC)
members include Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Illinois American Water,
Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas. The mission of the
IUBDC is to serve the Illinois utilities as a forum for best
practice sharing and information exchange with the focus on
advancing the growth and utilization of utility-based diverse
businesses in the state of Illinois.
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Illinois American WaterKaren Cotton, 309-566-4126orAlejandra
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