Smart Meter Program Brings New Jobs to Chatham
April 13 2015 - 10:32AM
Business Wire
New pilot program helps customers learn more
about how they can benefit from smart meters
Today, U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, the Chatham Business Association
and ComEd announced a new pilot program to train 10 residents of
Chatham and neighboring communities in outreach efforts to secure
the installation of smart meters at local residences that will give
customers access to greater savings once in place. The program
participants will be trained by ComEd to talk to customers about
the benefits of smart meters in an effort to help installers gain
access to the existing meters. This pilot came as a result of a
call to action by Rep. Rush to bring jobs and economic development
to the Greater Chatham area.
“I commend ComEd and the Chatham Business Association for
launching this initiative in Chatham. By pairing employment
opportunity with consumer education on energy efficiency, the
entire community stands to gain. ComEd’s pilot program provides an
example of the type of investment and collaboration that I
encourage other corporations to follow. They can provide the
impetus to turn Chatham around,” said Rep. Rush.
“This digital smart-meter system will not only better power our
homes and create real savings for families; it will also power job
creation in our neighborhoods like Chatham," said Mayor Rahm
Emanuel. “I applaud Congressman Rush and ComEd for partnering
together to make sure that residents in Chatham have the skills and
training to take part in this exciting 21st-century technological
innovation that is bringing with it greater value to customers
across Chicago and well-paying, middle-class jobs to families in
Chatham.”
"The Chatham Business Association (CBA) has been working with
local officials to bring new opportunities to residents of the
Chatham neighborhood,” said Melinda Kelly, Executive Director of
Chatham Business Association. “CBA is glad to partner in this
business savvy smart meter pilot program launched in Chatham. In
week one, CBA’s Community Outreach team was able to contact 903
addresses, schedule 45 appointments and eliminate 83 vacant
properties from ComEd’s Unable To Complete (UTC) list, bringing the
benefits of smart meters and cost savings to area residents. If
electric bills go down due to energy efficiency, that means more
money in people’s pockets to spend in our neighborhood businesses,
thus directly helping small businesses that are thriving in our
community. On behalf of CBA’s Board of Directors, I would to thank
Congressman Rush for his leadership and ComEd for working with CBA
to create an innovative model program that creates jobs with
economic value in our community.”
“More than 3,600 full time equivalent jobs have been created as
a result of Smart Grid work in northern Illinois,” said ComEd
President and CEO Anne Pramaggiore. “This pilot program will help
ComEd ensure all customers in the area can benefit from smart meter
technology while meeting the need for jobs in the Chatham area. We
are pleased to have worked with the Chatham Business Association
and Rep. Rush to bring this program to the area.”
The pilot is expected to last for three months and the results
will be reviewed by all parties to determine next steps.
Last year ComEd committed to bringing additional meter reader
and customer service jobs to the Chatham area. Several Chatham area
residents have applied and begun filling those positions.
Public officials who support the endeavor include: 8th
Ward Alderman Michelle Harris, 6th Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer,
34th Ward Alderman and Budget Chair Carrie Austin, Senator Donnie
Trotter, Congressman Danny Davis and Commissioner Richard
Boykin
Chatham Business Association Small Business Development Inc.
(“CBA”) is a non-for-profit organization formed with a mission to
promote political and economic stability in Chatham over 43 years
ago. Since then as a result of our expertise in small business
growth and development our market has expanded to serving
businesses throughout the City of Chicago and State of Illinois.
CBA’s purpose is to serve as a vehicle for enhancing social and
economic growth of Chatham and surrounding communities by creating
opportunities and programs that promote community stability.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with approximately 6.6 million customers. ComEd
provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across
northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For
more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
ComEd Media Relations(312) 394-3500
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