Good morning, everybody.
If?
If I could have a committee members, please take their
seats, all committee members were going to get started here
for our committee on Environmental Protection and energy.
but,
But we've got a few in the annex will give people a few
moments that we want to be respectful of our guests and
start on time.
A good.
Good.
Good morning.
Other by doing the committee on Environmental Protection
and energy will now come to order.
Today we're going to hear testimony from representatives
from the environmental justice Community from the office of
environment and sustainability and from the Department of
Public Health on their ongoing cumulative impact assessment
and opportunities for Community engagement. Following that
presentation, we will hear from representatives from comed
on their summer. Preparedness will work is being done to
identify weak points in the grid, and how it will address
those weak points equitably. So first, I, we will begin
with a roll, call to establish quorum
Vice-chair Knutson.
all the
Alderman laspada.
Alderman Ramirez.
All.
Alderman Lopez.
all the
Alderman, Tabares
alter.
Alderman Scott.
Autumn.
Alderman. 60 Lopez.
I'll
Alderwoman Cruz.
Old Roman Rodriguez, Sanchez.
Alderman Conway.
Alderman. Reilly
All.
Older.
Alderman Lawson.
Auto.
Alderwoman clay.
All.
Alderman. Martin.
Old woman on top and where and I am present.
Are.
All right, we've got ten members present. We have a quorum
so we are going to get started. Want to recognize do we
have any non-members presents?
Are all them.
Order Alderman, picture Lopez. Do you want to recognize the
non-member present?
Fantastic W. This time we're going to begin the public
comment period. Public comment is limited to 30 minutes out
of respect. For everybody's time. Each speaker will be
limited to three minutes. We're going to start, maybe we
can start. We do have three public speakers signed up
virtually and so if we can start with Jillian Marsden phone
number ending in 1798? Jillian, Marston.
DeLand. Please press star 6 to unmute
and,
And then the clock.
Write Julian Marston. Star 6 to unmute if you're not there,
I'm we're going to go next to Nat steinsaltz. Nat
steinsaltz, phone number ending in 63611.
Hello, this is Matt.
I'm alone at your public comment time. Your free minutes
starts. Now and I will recognize all the medical test for
Coram.
Thank you. My name is nasty. And I'm a member of the Dead
democratize, campaign. I know that in today's meeting will
be talking about ComEd preparedness and reliability. And I
hope that the committee takes a broad view of the
situation. And it says, whether or not, I can truly be a
reliable partner. First is the climate crisis worsens. Our
grid will face the double burden of increasing
electrification and increasing severe weather events. I
would like to know what programs, has the support Building
B carbonization and Energy, Efficiency, efforts, and will
these programs Beast
Fishing.
Patient to meet the city climate calls. We need real
programs that will help us rapidly transition to a zero
carbon society. And not just small effort, but merely serve
is greenwashing s. We know that last year, cancelled
service for 225,000 account and these cancellations
disproportionately impact people of color in Chicago. I'm
just as the city is preparing, a cumulative, impact study,
and finally, holding polluters to account for their harm.
To Chicago. In city council must do the same for ComEd.
Another corporation that imposes needless harm on Chicago
and in some blacks outside neighborhoods, disconnections
affected, one in 25 households.
I would like to.
I would like to hear comments plan, to meaningfully reduce
his connection because every citizen of Chicago, do you
have a right to eat in? Like, in a blackout has the same
impact whether it's caused by technical issues or
profit-driven corporate policy today. They also consider,
drastically increasing profits and rates while their former
CEOs Tucson trial for corruption, and that they can
determine whether or not, that is a reliable partner for
Chicago and future. Thank you.
and,
Thank you.
Neck.
next up, we have Kelly Connolly, phone number ending in 0
2, 2 9,
Good morning.
The.
Good morning. Good morning. I'm here to advocate for
municipal vacation, which I believe is the best option for
maximizing grid, reliability, and utility burden, and
reaching our decarbonization goals were convicted of
bribery and conspiracy in 2020, the Department of Justice
deferred prosecution, I find, 200 million dollars for the
bribery scheme. What was the purpose of the driveway scams
to obtain favorable State legislation for comment with a
small amount, spent driving state, legislators ComEd and
their shareholders have been awarded legislative changes
Pick the 2011 energy infrastructure modernization Act was
created of formula for ComEd can effectively, raise its own
rights, it has also successfully lobbied against
decarbonization in Energy Efficiency, measures of the state
level for kind of rate pairs. This is mint 1.5 billion
dollars in rate increases and even during the pandemic, it
has expanded the practice of electricity shut off Beacon
Illinois.
Top states.
Top state for disconnection only 5% of its electricity comes
from Renewables and it resists or interconnect, which
increases the cost of rooftop, solar for Chicagoland. And
they continually failed to meet renewable installation
goals. And after the successful state-mandated microgrid
project in Brownsville, they have refused to expand a
replicate the project we're at inflection point. Now the US
School funded by the inflation reduction Act is a net-zero
energy grid by 2035 or Energy System is going to be
transformed in the next decade and be carbonizing. Our
economy could double electricity consumption as we
Electrify everything.
because,
Chicago cannot reconstruct decarbonization goal with a
utility company that actively lobbying against State,
decarbonization legislation and a new franchise agreement
with, it should be five years for what the 2023 Johnson
transition report called for a franchise agreement, which
includes customer Financial in a rear diff distance. And a
community Advisory board that has real power and the second
phase in his was, Asian study to explore how to Melissa
Municipal Drive, and this is a baseline, municipal station
would give the city direct control over two billion dollars
in annual revenue.
Provide.
Provide the flexibility and authority to create an
equitable reliable and Progressive Energy. Utility we need
and where the incentives through the IRA. A city could
directly access billions of dollars in federal funding.
Thank.
Thank you for your comments. Are next. Public speaker are.
We're going to our guests that are here present with us. We
have Elena Gormley
A good.
A good morning. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. Good
morning. My name is Elena ghormley and I am the co-chair of
the Chicago Democratic socialists of America. The founding
organizational member of democratize ComEd Chicago. TSA is
dedicated to creating a city that enables all Chicagoans to
live prosperous healthy lives and an equitable reliable
Energy System is critical to that Vision democratize, dad
is a coalition dedicated to improving electrical service to
all Chicagoans City, municipal Association of our power
grid.
We?
We are in.
We are in the midst of a climate crisis that has impacted
Chicago into dangerous, flash, flooding, poor air quality
from wildfires and impacts of people who can't work inside
the offices, like, our hard-working UPS teamsters, and
we're still recovering from the continued economic impacts
from covid-19 and inflation. Many of you represent War
We're hunting.
Where hundreds of thousands of dollars and even in some
cases, millions of dollars are extracted for increasingly
unaffordable ComEd bills. We need a reliable power grid and
a transparent and publicly accountable Municipal utility
agency. Come and does not deliver either of these
disconnections blackouts and general under liability, or an
immense burden on the physical and mental health of
Chicagoans as a social worker. I have worked with countless
clients who've been harmed by the Electric System feeling
with them. And I worked alongside my fellow workers who
have to spend so many hours of the day, assisting people
with utility bill assistance programs,
Lack of access to electricity. Whether it's relaxed
affordability or system, unreliability is a real material
problem for thousands of Chicagoans, across the city. And
again, as a social worker, I want to highlight
When she?
When people can't pay their bills, it puts many working
families with children at risk of unnecessary. Involvement
in the child welfare system. Missed bills for for payment
sheet water. Have a lot of really devastating consequences
on very vulnerable families as you discussed summer
preparation and answering, and ensuring service reliability
urge, you to reject ComEd corruption and unreliable service
reject, the disastrous Legacy of poor franchise agreements
and moved to Municipal eyes are power grid Angelina.
Next up, we have Paul hens.
More.
Good morning.
My name is Paul hansie. I am a Chicago citizen hailing from
the 30th ward in Avondale. And I am also representing the
democratize ComEd campaign, the Wildfire smoke that we've
had them and damaging our health, and limiting, our
movement is a small, but very real sign of the climate
catastrophe. Unfolding all around us, Chicago must join
together with every community in the world. In order to
stem the tide of carbon emissions that represent a global
Rosacea.
Positional threat. The city of Chicago has set a goal to
reduce emissions by 62% by 2040. As we strive to meet this
goal, we're going to be forced to completely revolutionize,
our energy grid the process of decarbonizing. Our economy
could double electricity consumption as we work to
Electrify all our systems and our electrical utility is
crucial to our energy transition. We will not be able to
transform our grid. Achieve our climate goals were
invested, our Energy Future with a private profit-driven
utility that Rob Chicago of the authority and the
flexibility necessary to enact a Progressive
forward-looking Energy policy.
After.
After years of negotiation a deferred-prosecution
agreement, their former CEO jailed for corruption, a wildly
and inadequate franchise agreement. And yet another 1.5
billion dollar rate increase why are we still considering
continuing business? As usual with ComEd, as rate,
increases are already League Beyond with the city's
Municipal ization. Feasibility study predicted and these
rate increases Wipeout, whatever advantages ComEd may have
offered their corruption products in their repeated failure
to meet a renewable energy installation goals despite State
mandates, prove that they are an unworthy and unreliable
partner to Chicago, there is a better option, one, that
looks more and more promising as, continues to struggle
Municipal ization. A municipal utility would give Chicago
Direct Control of the more than two billion dollars in
annual revenues, January generates in Chicago.
Call.
Also gained the ability.
Also gave the ability to directly set our electric rate and
shut offs leverage, rate-based, financing mechanism have
full transparency, regarding, reliability, and
disconnections and ensure Equitable investment across the
city. Thanks to the inflation reduction act. All investment
credit are now accessible by public entities, meaning the
city or our Municipal, utility could directly access
billions of dollars of federal funding Municipal.
Association offers the city more opportunities than ever.
And it remains our best option for responding to the
climate emergency, please democratize comment, and thank
you. Thank you want to recognize by Cher Knutson older
woman Ramirez and older woman cruise for the Quorum and our
next public comment. We have Melinda Kelly or Gloria
Jenkins.
The more.
Good morning. My name is Melinda Kelly, I'm president of
Chatham Business Association. Also we're not as a TV. A, I
would like to take the conference committee on environment
protection and energy for the opportunity to speak about,
tax line. Is he be a partnership to implement and manage
the community energy assistance, in Bachelors call, cea a
program for over 51 years, it has been CD.
admission to a
Mission to improve the quality of life for Chicago's
low-income Community residents, including those with
disabilities, by leveraging, Economic Development
opportunities, specifically as it relates to entrepreneurs
and small businesses. It is in this vein that I on behalf
of CBA along with other community meetings, leaders and CDs
program director. Who's here with me today, Gloria Jenkins
appear before the committee to share their crucial role.
That together, we played it in for me, community members
about options available to help me with them. When
addressing past due balances on their energy bills. Access
took that help them manage their future energy use and this
includes promoting residential and customer awareness and
enrollment in governmental financial assistance options.
Such as low income, Our Life, as We Know It And Thomasville
assistance, and Energy Efficiency options
Hopeful.
Hopefully given the opportunity you hear from some of my
other colleagues like Mr. My cell Jackson who's iheartmedia
Cohoes for lunch brunch, bunch. And he also helped as
co-host for ComEd cea. Signature event called breakfast
with Santa spearheaded by Jackson Action Coalition. The
organisation is that we work with and to see a program
recognize that on a local level when people are trying to
navigate life and they're looking for food and they're
looking for
Resource.
Resources. And now, I
Resources in navigating the apps, sometimes they are more
concerned with addressing what's in front of them. And this
program helps us do that, so that we can bring all everyone
on the same level of the conversation of cutting carbon
footprint. I know for myself, I learned about the millions
of dollars that we're going to different organizations
about Energy Efficiency. But I really learned about it when
the legislation came and we were happy opportunity to come
to the table and learn what it takes while I'm here. Also,
I'm going to think a lot of your fellow councilman like a
7th, Ward Alderman, Gregory Mitchell's 8th ward alderman,
Harris 18th word on the Derrick Curtis because they refer
the residents over the hundred residents. We hired over
there are three years and two of them gorgeous with me
today and Lorinda court now, full-time employees and CBA,
and I would also have to send out a special thanks to folks
like your
Coco.
Cancel people like Alderman more and Stephanie Coleman who
had is coming to the community and make them key Partners
in this program. During covid-19 was really challenging for
local residents. Thank you for your time. Thank you for
your comment. Next up. Marcel Jackson.
A good.
Good afternoon committee people, I Echo the sentiments of
Melinda Kelly. I've been a partner with CVA and the ComEd
Community ambassador program for the past three years. And
they came in at a time, of course, during covid-19
signature event on the west side, where we service over,
500 families for Christmas, but because of the social
distancing, we could not do it. And I had the idea to do a,
a drive-through breakfast with Santa. And to make that
happen, we needed the resources in the Partnerships and
ComEd came through to make that happen. One of the
significant things that made me want to continue to partner
with them. Was I like that they came out and educated our
residents on the different programs and services that were
available. I'm a strong. Proponent of. If you change the
brain, you change the behavior. But on the west and south
sides, we can't change Behavior because we have an educated
the people to change the brain and that's what the CBA.
Community.
Community ambassador program has done. And we've been able
to help, countless countless resident to just kind of
educating understand, time. Also, the host of the brunch,
bunch of inspiration, 1390 and Executives from comment. He
made a point to come into the studio and educate our
fifteen thousand daily listeners. On the carbon footprint,
on using LED light bulb on the grants and programs, to keep
the electricity and lights on. When we know that's an issue
on both South and West sides and then low in income
community. So that was my peace. I just wanted to share
that with you. I'll thank you. Thank you for your comment.
Thank you to all of our speakers today. There being no more
speakers. Signed up, public comment, period is concluded
and when I recognized by alderman laspada for the
roll-call, so we've got two exciting items before
committee. Today, this is my
Search committee.
Search committee meeting as chair and I'm really excited
for the team that we have on this committee. I want to note
for the record that is, you know, people signed up for
different committees and sent their interest in to senior
colleagues. And to the administration, I was really
excited. How many people wanted to serve on this committee
for Environmental Protection and energy? I think we have a
fantastic group. We've got a lot of work ahead of us in
this is the beginning.
And I appreciate all.
And I appreciate all of our committee members thanks I sure.
Can you send please know that? I will be meeting regularly.
We want to help. We've got already legislation that you
guys have submitted being reviewed. We're going to work
really collaboratively. And I think everyone here has got
the same goals of wanting to make sure that we've got to
stay. Clean climate ready a city for now and for the
future. So I appreciate, everybody's attendance. So we'll
start without him one. So I don't want is a subject matter
hearing about the Chicago Department of Public Health on
going to impact assessment. The assessment was codified by
an executive order. In May, I'll buy mayor Lightfoot as
part of a settlement agreement with the Department of
Housing and Urban Development against the city for
environmental racism.
For 10.
For Generations. We've seen policymakers make decisions
that impact the health and well-being of certain
neighborhoods by allowing intensive industrial operators
and manufacturers to be concentrated in certain areas of
the city.
the cumulative impact assessment aims to gather, both
quantitative and qualitative data on the placement of these
manufacturers in the impacts that they had on communities
to which they are adjacent or within
The data gathered.
The data gathered from the assessment is going to help us
to inform decision-making and policy and a variety of
areas, including but not limited to zoning and land-use
transportation permitting and of course enforcement. It's
also going to explore other interventions to consider the
burden that these intensive industrial operations have on
the environment and work to better. Protect the community
set of infected by them. An interagency group has been
working diligently on this assessment and has produced a
draft environmental justice action plan which is now open
for public, comment through the end of July Alice Walton
from environmental law & policy Center in the box with us.
We've got Kim Wasserman from the little village,
environmental justice organization, Angela Tovar, Chief
sustainability officer from The Office of Environmental
sustainability and Megan Cunningham from the Department of
Public Health are here. Today, they're going to be speaking
to the ongoing work and provide our committee and the pub.
What's?
with a
With info.
With information on how our communities can get involved,
how we can submit public comment and how we can engage
before the report is due on September 1st. Once the report
is, due will hold another subject matter hearing on this on
to cover its finding. So to start us off, we've got Megan
coming Cunningham from the Department of Public Health and
Angela Tobar are chief sustainability officer. If you've
decided on a different order just FYI, just please
introduce yourself.
the record as
The record as you begin.
Thank.
Thank you so much. Are we are deeply grateful to you. And
to the members of the environment committee for the
opportunity to present today, on the cumulative impact
assessment, it's probably unorthodox to be speaking to you
from the box, but we think that it was appropriate to do so
today, because what you see before you is the Coalition
representing a much broader movement of organizations and
City, departments and agencies that have been deeply
involved over the course of the last year, on advancing a
cumulative, impact assessment, and we see partnership with
this committee and other members of city council as
essential to delivering on the promise of the assessment.
Because the work that we are doing here is meant to provide
data, that will inform lasting transformational policy
change, and that requires us working hand-in-hand as we go
forward. So today is an opportunity for us to really, just
share. What has been done so far to lay the foundation for
the cumulative, impact assessment to talk about ongoing.
14.
Fortunately.
Opportunities to get involved throughout the summer months
and then in a forward-looking way to think about what that
collaboration can continue to to present as managing.
Deputy Commissioner at the Chicago Department of Public
Health and just to demystify cumulative. Impacts a bit, as
the chair shared in the city of Chicago, we recognize that
due to long-standing and persistent enact are we have
created certain communities?
Message.
Necessity that are disproportionately burdened by
environmental stressors. These are threats to the land, the
water, the air, as well as communities, that are more
vulnerable to the effects of, that sort of pollution
exposure, because of underlying health. And social factors
the neighborhoods in Chicago, where people have higher
rates of heart disease, asthma diabetes. We also have areas
in the city that struggle with access to care there. Just
aren't the sort of Health promoting resources in some of
our neighborhoods. And so when we take all of these factors
together, these environmental factors these health. And his
social stressors, we have to recognize and understand from
a policy perspective that these are neighborhoods. That may
require some additional protections, some additional
controls and resources and Investments to ensure more
Equitable outcomes and this is deeply entrenched in the
ethos and in the values of the Chicago Department of Public
Health. As many of, you know, we work together with
community.
Meijer across the city across sectors to produce every four
years. A Citywide environmental health and public health
Improvement plan. The most recent of which is called
healthy, Chicago 2025, and this takes as its fundamental,
aim closing, the racial life expectancy Gap in Chicago. We
know that a black Chicago and lives on average more than 10
years last longer than virtually any other racial and
ethnic group in the city, we seen striking.
I'm
Things in life expectancy for our Latino Latino populations
and this is not just a question of healthcare. This is
really a question of the root causes of Public Health. So
healthy Chicago, 2025 Embraces, this concept that we have
to move upstream and we have to really think about how do
we intervene to change the conditions of place. And that
means centering these principles of environmental justice
and ensuring fair treatment and meaningful involvement of
communities in decisions that affect their lives. So that's
the work of this cumulative. Impact assessment, is really
to try to better understand Community conditions, and to
use that data to inform recommendations that we will bring
to you all for policy changes in the area. Does the chair
side of land, use of zoning of Transportation, Planning of
Permitting and enforcement activities. We also hope to use
this to change the approach that the city takes to
internalizing these environmental justice values and having
cities City departments, use their eggs.
sing a
Testing authorities to think about how do we better protect
communities from these harmful effects of pollution. So I
am going to now just acknowledge again, our colleagues in
the box from our environmental justice organization
Partners can Wasserman from the little village
environmental justice organization, Alice Walton from the
environmental law & policy Center. We are deeply grateful
to you as well as an honored by the fact that you sit with
us today and that much before today for decades.
Real.
Really. You all have been on the phone.
Really, you all have been on the front lines of bringing to
public attention, these issues of environmental justice and
of calling upon the city to recognize Past Farms and work
affirmatively together with Community organizations, on
policy solutions that are going to minimize mitigate
prevent those threats of effects to the future. We know
that you have worked hard over these last decades to show
up at public meetings, to provide public, comment to
respond to the call to participate in the we will Chicago
planning effort and in things like the climate action plan.
And we hope that through this collaboration, we will see a
real change for the neighborhoods that you represent.
I'm going.
Play me to.
I'm going to pass it over to Gabby. Thanks Megan and Gabby
Wagner sobreiro.
It's okay.
I were.
I work with our chief sustainability officer Angela, Tovar
out of the office of climate and environmental equity. And
I've been a part of the cumulative impact assessment work,
since I think the beginning of its time here for the for
this team. So our project overview, you'll see on the left
side is sort of our synchronization of different working
groups in different. You no accountability structure in the
project management team. I think one of the things to
mention that Megan very much set in her
So is that this has been very much.
So is that this has been very much a community life process
from the beginning of the planning stages of how we were
going to start, who to involve, right? We consulted our
environmental Equity working group which was first out of
the office of climate and environmental Equity to really
understand how did best structure and position this
project. So, you see, here, we have two Representatives
today with us, but there are many more that unfortunately
couldn't make it today that are definitely worth
acknowledging as well. You know, one of the other things
that that's really important to make clear to is that the
environmental Equity working group on from the beginning of
our first meetings with on had voiced, strong, strong
interest for the city to consider Chima, live in packs and
and think about how the city considers cumulative impact,
but also how data can really help inform
Making.
Breaking arm on a policy level especially and so, you know,
with that being said, you know, one of the first things
that we had to really normalize I guess in the group is our
values and those values you're seeing here in front of you
are Auntie racism, equity-focused centering first boys, and
holding accountability and transparency. And so these are
the values that we will treat you to our work. And we open
our meetings with and we remind ourselves on that.
if we don't,
If we don't pull these values, then our work isn't done,
right? Is not done well and it's not done and I just Manor.
You go.
You go to the next?
So, that's one of the first calls-to-action we create. We
worked with our environment to equity, working group, to
ewg, to consider, and look at all of the different
information and ways that the public have provided
commentary on cumulative. Impacts but also around
environmental justice, I think from the years in the past,
with all of the community engagement that have happened on
the city, had a big library, right of a public comment of
community input. And so what was requested by the ewg, was
to consider grouping and collecting that information
creating a thematic analysis which you'll see on the right
hand side in that yellow on box and understand, you know
what have Community already said, right? And how can we
take that information to really scope out the cumulative?
impact of
Impact assessment work. And so, you know what we found in
that work, in that report was really this push for a
stronger environmental justice. You know, focus and
response. There was information around decision making and
how the city can restructure a redesign what decision
making looks like. There were things around zoning, of
course, and then stronger, emphasis on looking at on health
disparities and using that information to also combined
with environmental factors and decision-making. So that
report is on our cumulative impact website, which is up
there. Chicago.gov forward slash cumulative impact Gabby,
one moment out, just want to say for the, for the record,
we will make sure these slides are up on the city clerk's
website for the public thinks, Alderman, Lopez, and
committee members. These were all email to you. So if
you're having any trouble reading the smaller text, they
are digitally available to you in your in.
It's a
It's so the next two sides. This one provides an update on
our working group. So we have four working groups in total
with the data and method is working group. That is
co-chaired by Little Village, environmental justice
organization and the greater Chicago Legal Clinic as well
as cdph and the office of climate environmental Equity
what? Part of those meetings as well. The premise or the
goal I should say of the day.
It's working. Great.
It's working group is to engage in dialogue and work
through information, data, indicators, research,
literature. All of these things that are at R&R tool box.
To think about how do we want to use them and analyze them
to inform decision-making and then therefore inform policy
itself. So yeah, I've been a part of these meetings and I
can say that these are really rich conversations of really
thinking thoroughly of how data interacts and what
community members are Stacy. And you know what their
narrative is and what they are experiencing and what the
data shows as well. And one of the outcomes of this is to
create an environmental justice map, using the proposed
final outside of indicators that are agreed upon by
September 1st and that will also be a public facing tool as
well.
The commute.
The community engagement working group. This group is
co-chaired by cdph people for Community recovery and
neighbors for environmental justice. This group is very
much position to consider how information gets disseminated
out into communities, how we are engaging and teaching
people out in the community is, especially on the South and
West sides of the city about this project and how it has
very strong implications in, in terms of n,
Future.
Teacher Pina policymaking and really just help them
understand? Right of what, what the work here is, is
happening in City Hall in Ann & Beyond and it's also a way
to gather input as well. So right? I think that we all know
that we can't, you know, can't happen just in City Hall
itself that we have to actually engage with residents of
this, great City and talk to them and hear them out and
consider, you know what, it is that they are experiencing
and what ideas? They have to better improve on
environmental justice center city, Angela will provide
briefly after me more information on some of the
engagements that are happening, including one today.
Thank you for the last two working groups before I turn it
over to Angela policy. So our policy working group is
co-chaired by cdph again and the environmental law & policy
Center where Ellis comes from and the gold or the scope of
this working group is to scope out a set of recommendations
and draft. Those recommendations into a proposed ordinance
that captures really the vision of the environmental
justice communities and also really addresses and uses the
data on the environmental justice map that I mentioned
earlier coming out of the data and methods working group
and some of the
preliminary recommend a
Preliminary recommendations are categorized here in these
three bullet points on environmental justice fundamentals.
So thinking about defining environmental justice and
promoting environmental justice cumulative, impacts
elements. So how the city is going to be? Or could be
requiring on considerations for environmental health and
social structures and decision-making? And then finally, on
community benefits. So thinking about, the people directly
being impacted from local development, how people can
essentially receive benefits from India? Arie has the last
two parts of mental working group, and that is that
interagency working group that chairperson hadn't had
mentioned earlier. This is a group of a variety of
departments and representatives from those apartments will
come together and have a greed on a share.
Call.
Call to advanced environmental justice in the city and have
also, you know, raise their hand to really play a role in
that advancement as well. And that, that advancement that
I'm talking about. Really comes forward from the EJ action
plan for the environmental action plans, where they have
consulted members of their departments, including their
Commissioners to consider how their what their Department
roll is an advancing environmental justice and what are the
strategies that they can?
Move forward on to really Advance. Go and not just for their
department. But for this city itself and those are posted
on that she will it impact. Website, they're up for public,
comment and review. We do have a survey as well on the
website that we are encouraging folks to complete and
submit on. So just share their perspectives and their, you
know what their ideas are? And that the final I should say
environmental action plan will on come together on
September 1st of this year, and I will hand it over to
Angela.
Good morning, everyone. I'm I'm Angela Tovar. I'm the chief
sustainability officer for the city, and I work in the
office of climate and environmental Equity, I want to say
two things. And then I'm going to turn it over to my
colleagues. Here, you know, the mayor, when he got elected
Mayor Johnson, he has led with two things in mind, right?
He's giving us a charge, to think about how we we, we think
about the intersectional nature of the work that we do as
policymakers. And you know, that in this case means that we
have to send her race. We have to send her class and we
have to send her gender and all of our decision-making as a
city and unfortunately we're in a situation now where we
see low-income communities of color. Disa personally
impacted by pollution in our cities, right? Cdph put out a
report in 2020 that said that low-income communities of
color that are in close proximity to Highway highways and
communities that are in close proximity to industrial
pollution.
Can.
Where are carrying the burden of pollution on behalf of the
city. And in addition to that, we are now facing. We have
been for a while facing a climate crisis, right? Which has
been brought up many times already and in committee today,
that's a compounding Factor on top of all of the health
disparities that to these communities are already facing.
We're now seeing poor air quality right rapid flooding. I'm
in a number of different stations that are going to
compound that until really thinking about the intersection
of nature of these issues is critical for us in the second
charge from the mayor is Cole governance, right
understanding how we as policymakers Foster deep
Partnerships with our community, organizations, with
stakeholders in our community and and recognized that lived
experience is also of us, is also something that needs to
be factored in. This is not just a scientific process,
although we are relying heavily on the data to tell us
about, you know, communities of concern. We also need to
factor in what it means to live.
In communities.
In communities, in to understand, you know, direct feedback
from people that are here and they're experienced this on a
day-to-day basis. So, I'm very proud past them. Like, I'm
to my colleagues from the EJ Community. Her going to talk a
little bit about cumulative impacts and, and their
experience in this process and then will close out by
talking about Community engagement. Good morning, my name
is Kim Wasserman. I'm the executive director of The Little
Village. Environmental justice organization in a proud
residents of the 12th Ward, I have you seen my other women
here?
Every time I have to say that this is a really surreal
experience for me. I've spent the last twenty-five years,
literally on the opposite side of this fox fighting for my
communities rights to clean air, clean, land and clean
water. And so to be here today and hear all of the things
that just come out of the mouths of these three individuals
is a pretty emotional moment for me. Because to Oculus
point, it proves that our lived experience has black and
brown communities is no longer falling. Hopefully on deaf
ears that are fight for clean. Air clean land and clean
water is now being seen and heard and brought to the
Forefront and that the city is taking responsibility and
acknowledging. The impacts of that zoning laws and
permitting processes have caused in our neighborhood. And
so for me, I'm just Mom, graduated Chicago Public Schools
who got into this because their kid couldn't breathe 25
years later to be sitting here and
Actual.
Actually potentially have an opportunity in front of us to
allow our community to breathe is just something. I would
have never imagined. And so I really want to thank the
folks around this table who have heard what we have been
talking about who have uplifted. The 14 principles of
environmental justice who have worked in collaboration with
communities of color to listen to what we have done and
what we have done over the last 30 years. Quite honestly is
become experts in planning and policy. We've had to become
experts in public health. We had to become community
scientist to prove exactly what is being shared today that
are
Koala.
Qualities.
Quality is terrific Little Village has the second worst air
quality in the state, right? Like never has that been
considered in the zoning and permitting in our community.
Right? Never once outside of just thinking about the four
boundaries of property, have we thought about what is the
cumulative impact is happening in our neighborhood? And so,
to be on the on the precipice of those conversations is
just silver filling from you as an individual who was just
looking to be a mom, who was just looking to to be provider
of her family and had to take on all of these roles.
Because I wanted my kids to be able to bring you and to be
able to beat the life expectancy of what is to grow up in
Chicago. And so for me, I told her the data and methods
group wish I would have never thought in a million years
and I am at the table with content experts talking about
all of these data sets and looking at these maps. And again
bringing helping bring the voice of our community to the
table to say yes, this is what we experience when you grow
up next to Industry when you walk by industry, when your
school is next door to Industry, when all you have is
trucks,
down your
Down your neighbor.
Down your neighborhood when his industry across the street
from your Park. And that's all, you know, it becomes
normalized, right? And so, to be able to sit here with
folks and be like that shouldn't be normal, that shouldn't
be how our communities are developed and economic
Prosperity is the only way it comes again, is truly
Monumental. And so, for us, I really want to acknowledge
that this team has helped make us a decision makers in the
process. All of those written comments that you see there
for the first time we collected here, by folks, in
Oh yeah. In fact you have over the last 30 years given us,
so yeah in fact the solutions to what we're talking about
is actually in these documents and so to see that has been
amazing. It's critical that every city Department have
access to this information. So they can be taking measures
to fight environmental racism, because this isn't just
about the hill close in the mat asphalt. This is about no
parks in our community. This is about no public transit. In
our communities, about access to water clean water in our
communities, is also important to know that cdph needs to
be in power to prioritize where do permitting protections
belong, where do denials, say that again, where do denials
belong, right. In our communities dpd planned developments.
We need to ensure that housing isn't blowing some housing
isn't put next door to polluting industries that we can't
sacrifice the health of our black and brown community
members. Support committee members, for the sake of saying,
well, he's here is better than nowhere, right? And the only
thing I'll say is that for many years to respond,
back from
Back from the city to us was will just move.
Just me.
Just move. If you don't like it, I am proud to have been
born and raised in Little Village. I am proud to be a part
of the Chicago Public Schools. I am proud to be apprised of
the Chicago public transit system. The Chicago Public
Library System than the Chicago Park system and I will not
move my family for the state of a better environment. What
I will do is sit here and fight for the last 25 years. And
for the next 25 years to ensure that our community has a
rights,
so, thank you for
So, thank you for the opportunity today.
Hello.
Hello, everyone and good morning. My name is Alice Walton.
I am a associate attorney for the environmental law &
policy Center and I also serve as the co-chair for the
policy working group. And I just wanted to use this time to
really give three important reasons to lease to my cell
phone, why Achilles impacts ordinance is important and why
should be implemented in Chicago. Firstly impact ordinance
would serve to prevent a variety of Harm's experienced by
communities of color in Chicago. Firstly, we create more
stringent regulation on permitting of new industrial and
toxic cities and communities of color currently new in new
facilities and Industrial operators. Don't have to
understand how their facilities would create an additional
environmental burden on Committees of Colors by requiring.
An analysis of the totality of Apartments, fax on the
surrounding Community decision maker.
Are there?
Are better able to determine whether or not a permit should
be granted and a community? Secondly, a chemist impacts
ordinance will allow the city to remedy past environmental
Injustice has by targeting existing industrial industrial
facilities and revising their permit terms to mitigate the
adverse effects. They have on surrounding communities
thoroughly for too long. Communities of color have been
silenced and decision-making process and forced to Bear the
will of Industry. However, passing such an ordinance, would
undoubtedly give our ministry, our city, and this
Administration a chance to create a new model for public
participation, in community engagement, a model that he's
the concerns and advice of historically disadvantaged
communities, and puts their health above the profits of
others. Last, we do to segregation red lighting and other
manifestations systemic racism. Communities of color are
less likely to live in areas. Zoned for are more likely to
live in area zone for toxic.
and,
And by reforming our code or city code and in-laws through
Achilles impacts ordinance committee has a collar would be
free from the Chokehold industry and allowed to pursue
healthy lives in activities. Unburdened by the trouble of
industry and pollution, thank you for allowing me to be
here, and thank you for a cdph for it. Being great Partners
throughout this process and looking forward to come to work
product that we put out in the next few months. Thank you.
And then I'm going to bring us home. So I want to say for
the record that we encourage everybody to get involved in
this dialogue since we're in, we're in this assessment,
right? And we charged, we have worked together to create
the assessment and we have charged our departments to start
thinking about how the assessment could impact their
day-to-day, their work. The next step is to have a
community dialogue. It involves everyone. So everyone here
is invited to the table for this important conversation. So
this slide shows a number of events that are happening, and
we are inviting people. And this is the locations are
Guided by people that are most impacted by pollution. So
the folks that are in are working group have decided the
locations of where we want to do Outreach. And so we are,
I'm prioritizing those locations. This begins tonight. We
have a community meeting tonight, which is a host,
co-hosted by people for Community. Recovery on the far
south side in
Neighbors.
neighbors, for
Neighbors for environmental justice out of McKinley Park.
This will be at Corliss High School on 103rd Street and you
see that there are a couple of more community events in
Pilsen, and on 76th, and Maryland in Golden Gate and then
another one in McKinley Park. We've also had a community
event on the Southeast side already. I'm so if there are
gaps in terms of where this conversation needs to be, have
we encourage
Able to.
Able to let us know.
Able to let us know if you cannot make an in-person event.
We also have an online survey which will be up through July
31st and then the draft climate action, environmental
justice action plan, which is the recommendations that are
coming from the departments in terms of how they can change
their operations, or policies to align with the assessment
that is online. And people can download that, read that and
provide feedback to us. And the deadline for that is also
on July 31st, the website is chicago.gov, backslash
cumulative impact. I'm in there for you all in terms of
next steps. Again with those deadlines are July 31st, we
will be completing the Baseline assessment by September
1st. So the aggregation of all of that data, both
qualitative and quantitative will be complete by September
1st and will be available. And then we will be presenting
the findings from this assessment back to you.
Call with a.
Call with a dry.
Call with a draft recommendation for policy changes as well
as to the mayor by October 31st. So that concludes our
presentation happy to answer any question and will thank
you all for your time this morning.
Thank.
thank you all the
thank you all very much for the
Thank you all very much for the presentation and the
exciting work. So, we've got Alderman Conway of the first
question, first, want to thank you all for your work, and
I'm very excited to to read your reports. Just two
questions, you need. Not answer them now but I hope they
can be informed, informed and Report. The first one was
about the racial Gap in life expectancy. I remember early
on during covid, Dr. Awasty say that say that it was
between black Chicago and everyone else was roughly, eight,
twenty-two years. I heard one of you say, it's now over 10.
I would, I would like to know what is contribute that mean?
That's a two years in two years, is it is a huge move is
that just covid based or is there? I suspect. There's other
things and play, of course. What you think we can do to to
reverse that? Of course. That's the first question I have
the second one is, I heard a couple of you talk about
Highway pollution and similar and how that how that effects
the the environment as well as Parks it's worth noting in
the in the 34th Ward. I suspect we have the most highway
mileage and least park space per capita of any war in the
city. So I would be uniquely interested in how those things
are affecting our environment, as well as the health of
health of Chicago. Broadly. Thank you madam. Chairwoman for
the time and thank you all for your hair.
Work out of.
Autumn.
Ottoman, what would you like the First Response through the
chair? You think some of the updated data you will? If you
could Point me that where that's going to show up in the
report that's fine as well. Whatever is easiest for the
committee. Thank you.
And hear me. Yes, we're very happy to provide more detailed
information about the life expectancy Gap through the
chair. We also encourage you all to visit chicago.gov
healthy, Chicago, all of the data including Trends over
time are included on that website. Along with more
information about our plan, it is accurate that covid-19
pandemic fell most disproportionately on communities of
color in the city of Chicago and we see a widening Gap in
racial life expectancy due to covid. But when we look at
what's really the primary driver of that Gap, it's chronic
disease and chronic diseases. We know, and as we talked
about today is also closely related to environmental
factors. But environment is just one of many pillars that
if we want to close that racial life expectancy Gap. We
have to focus on so are healthy. Chicago plan also, looks
at root causes like housing, like, food access like
Community Development, more, broadly. So, we, we do
encourage all of you to take a look at that website, and
we're happy to have further conversation.
Haitian about the healthy.
Nation about the healthy Chicago plan. Oh girl.
Minnesota woman. Could we please go back to the the impacts
and benefits line? It was like two or three back. I'm here.
Here it is. Okay, I love the presentation. I loved the
work.
anyone who look,
You.
You weren't your honor. What do you know? I mean anybody
anybody who thinks about the work being done by your
organization's should only feel angry angry at the
inaction. That frequently has come out of this body that we
now have an opportunity to correct. I was curious about a
couple things. So when we talked about cumulative impact
elements,
What?
what does it look like to quantify that in ways that are
different than the city already does? And in terms of
between the benefits?
Every.
Everyone who was ever a manufacturing or Logistics facility
in any, of these communities talks about the benefits, can
name a benefit? How do we ensure that the human Community
benefits outweigh the costs? Not only in our eyes, but in
the eyes of that community, and if they don't wonder, what
are the repercussions?
He's?
These are both really important questions and I think it's
important to situate the work that we're doing here in
Chicago and a national context that US EPA and President.
Joe Biden have issued various orders and evidence their
commitment to better understanding from the level of data
and qualitative Community input, really how to quantify
cumulative. It is not a foregone conclusion, and there is
no probably one perfect way in which to do it. But Chicago
has worked closely with our Region, 5 US EPA office to
really tap into their expertise, and they really indicated
that we have an opportunity here to be a national leader in
really kind of setting some new standard, some new
benchmarks for what that analysis can be at what we know
today and what is coming out of the findings to date with
the cumulative impact assessment, is that it needs to be
not just an analysis of environmental burden and whether we
meet or exceed or fall below these National Environmental.
Mark's.
Mark's that, that needs to be taken together with various
Health Community Health factors impact on health, as well
as Community Quality of Life actors. Things like noise and
odors and it may be more difficult to quantify honestly.
But they do reflect the live reality of many of our fence
line communities. So when we put forward the cumulative
impacts ordinance recommendations, it will create
If it.
if it's
If it's past, it will create new authorities for the
Chicago Department of Public Health for the Department of
planning and development. In the zoning board to take those
kinds of additional criteria into consideration today. We
believe that we have authority to do that uses of
discretion and we have been taking some of these factors
into account, but we need to codify and protect that
Authority by making it explicit know where in the code
today. Does the word, cumulative, impacts of here and we
need to change that through this effort, and I think that's
a big part of what we are undertaking here to your second
question about the community benefits. I think it is
accurate to say that access to well-paying jobs, for
example, and economic development that grows attacks base,
is something that is important for Chicago. But there is a
way to have Economic Development without sacrificing the
health and well-being of our communities. And so thinking
creatively through this assessment process about how to
modify Community benefits, how to require agreements with
Community stakeholders, how to create new funds and
resources that promote tree planting or other
infrastructure Investments and benefits in neighborhood, is
all a cheaper ball and we have really been interested in
the guidance and the input of Our Community Partners in
helping to better understand and Define what that right
balance of Economic Development and house can look like in
neighborhoods by ensuring that the communities
Affected are realizing those direct Investments and
improvements. Thank you. I look forward to the Ordnance. I
just want to say a lot. I hope that part of this is also
eliminating some of the carve-outs that were built into our
air quality ordinance. From several years ago, our
communities deserve that they deserved it then and they
absolutely deserve it. Not one say that out loud. Thank you
to her. Thank you. We've got out of been lost in and
followed by ottoman such a Lopez. You so much bad. I'm sure
I just have a couple quick questions that I'm sorry if I
missed it but a lot of what we're talking about as far as
impact comes from public infrastructure roads. Highways
it's not always the stinky industry, right? Are we applying
this to our projects as well?
What's the feels like?
But things, like North Lakeshore Drive in my work to
demonstrate that we have called in and have asked, folks,
to come to the table for every Department that touches air
land and water is at the table right now. And so the
important thing is, is that everybody is looking at this.
And I think that someone sent I sent and I can't remember
who, but I think it's important to say this is not just
about permitting, right? This is, this is so comprehensive,
this will impact everyone's decision.
make a
Make it right.
Make it right? And it could be where we need to to
prioritize Investments. It could be where there are gaps as
the other pointed out in terms of his concern about his
community and, and the proximity to traffic. It could be,
it could be about permitting industrial permitting and it
should be. So there are a number of ways in which we will
apply this. The important thing for us is to get this Data
Business assessment completed, and then to continue to work
with departments to say, what does this look like for you
for your operation, for your policy, making for your areas
of investment moving forward? Are there now? Geographic
priorities, there is so much potential for us to think
about how we invest in our communities and how we mitigate
existing environmental harm and how we protect for the
future based on this assessment. So there's a lot riding on
this. I think if you if you go to Chicago. Gov can live in
packs and look at
And look at the recommendations from the Departments. That's
the first start, this is what they have given us but we are
really relying on feedback from others and just continued
coordination and refinement on this proposal to make sure
that we get it right. Thank you. This is this is a big task
every Department of the rollout by September clearly but
what is sort of the ideal timeline to have an ordinance in
a policy in place. Have an ordinance, we will certainly
have an ordinance but again I think it will also impact the
way that operations change, right? So this will continue to
it may require one or two ordinances. I think we'll make
that determination. Once we finalize the environmental
justice action plan and we are working on and in heaven
chords
What's up?
What sound?
What some departments to think about a preliminary
ordinance as it relates to land-use and Zoning? I'm, so
that's the first one, but given again, the bag of truth of
this and how the interdepartmental coordination that's
involved, we do anticipate that there will be other changes
to operations and potentially more organs is coming. We
will have the environmental justice action plan wrapped up
by October 31st. Again, we will be back to this committee
to give that presentation to stay.
That combo.
That conversation.
That conversation and then you have the hope is that we
work in Partnership to continue to think about ways in
which we could Advance policy accordingly and always,
right? I mean, this is a change the conversation, that's
it. Thank you, madam chair. I've got Alderman, Lopez and
Alderman Lopez. I'd like to do you guys want mine, cut off
questions after that so that we have time to switch out and
move to our second item. I'll also just take a moment to
say, I hope everyone after you read the full old Mayor
Johnson transition team plan, and we got the whole
transition report. Would love everyone to read on this
committee. Actually, you know what? We've got in the
cumulative, impact assessment, peace and I invite you guys
to send feedback. We, we've got this whole team and they're
working groups and so I think we'll have a lot to read and
questions and input and Stone.
if it is going to,
But it's going to kind of be in partnership with this
committee and others. So I hope everyone your homework in
the months before July 31st. So we can get feedback in Joe,
Lopez, thank you, share. Well, thank you again. I really
appreciate these shows the city of Chicago, that there is
indeed a new day in the city that we're now we got to have
two hearings, right?
In for you.
In four years, I don't think we have as many hearing says we
have today. And I bought, you know, that something to be
proud of, but I am proud that we have a new comedian proud
because now my son is here and all new day, new new, New
Beginnings. So in terms of them, the importance of this
community in Pakistan and he has important repercussions
for a community like ours being really burden by by the
environmental racism and nothing in it. Going to be in the
time, will we see climate change and we seen the facts in
the west side through today, we still have homes in the
Westside that were flooded with insurances, are denying
even coverage. We have a serious situation is here to
Chicago and a thing, deserves that kiki come morning
planning together. My first question in the line and he has
to be with a community engagement process. You can be sure
and thank you and I commend you for having a hearing,
Indica.
Meetings in the community. So in terms of two things that
come in engagement process because I think input not only
from the community but also from local elected officials
was completely missing under the previous administration.
There was none. So I don't think we can call a few
nonprofits, you know, and a few meetings Community
engagement that is a disservice to the city of Chicago. We
need a robust conversation to see how every Ward is
impacted. I hear in the 34th Ward.
Eminem.
how many of the
And many other Wars, we have a huge issue with lack of
green space. In the meantime we have more and more than
elephants coming in and operated by right contradicting,
completed in need of this study. So we're on the timeline
by how we can roll out engagement as well as implementation
of some things in particularly around sacrifice zones that
I think, is where we have some of the biggest issues.
that's,
And I believe that question was your community engagement
timeline.
so, as
So as we noted, if if you want to go back I do agree. This
is this is the initial start of the conversation. The
certainly doesn't reflect the closure of any door. I agree
with you or older men that this does require a continued
robust conversation on this issue. So this is the very
first of the community meetings that we are having
including one at Fiesta Del Sol. We want to make sure that
we are you know
Having conversations with people as they are, you know, in
their communities, in the streets. So we we do want to
continue the conversation and we welcome participation. I
think one of the reasons why we're here early at the time
of assessment and not at the time that we have, the policy
is just to introduce this concept, we're not voting today
on anything. We don't have a policy. Drafted, this is an
introduction to you all and an invitation to come and work
in partnership with us. This isn't this isn't hey. We have
this wrapped up and we know we're ready to go in, and we're
here to to pass a policy. This is an invitation to work in
Partnership, so we are very committed as you can see, two
moving in this process in a way that's meaningful to
everyone. And so we would welcome your participation in any
anyone else. They feel strongly about this issue and wants
to come together at the time that we are now, we wanted to
start first with the assessment and the and the
Group in.
In group in in the partnership because we want to provide
something for folks to think about, right? We need to show
the maps me to show the data so that we can demonstrate to
people that this is an issue. And then from there going in,
and having these conversations is, is important. So, this
is just an introduction today and an invitation to continue
to work together. So we welcome continued partnership with
you. And anyone else here that would like to get involved.
Thank you.
As odd as a community impact directly by a lack of action
under the previous administration. Again, we had
facilities. Today, I hope everything we have already have
fires liking, the seams facility. There was a sign of fire
with hazardous materials that were exposed to many people
in our community. There was not even an emergency plan. If
that's how these pictures in this in this series are so, so
rare that I do think that, they believe that they can
operate Above the Law, many of these are men of these
corporations. So, my next question in terms of the
intergovernmental because of him, that feedback is great. I
do think that has been inconsistencies between the policies
of the Illinois EPA and the u.s. Region 5, we can
participate in some meetings but I think this in food
I talked to Matt.
It has to match the intergovernmental coordination. That
again is missing the inconsistencies on one end without
organization. Going to be very pretty of someone prophesied
even claim to all pray that you know, to help the
environment that set up meetings, that their leader use as
meetings so that they can continue with the permits
building permits in conscionable. So my request is to be
very specific. Do we? Are we going to expect an ordinance
within a year. What is the goal here at work?
Begin.
Beginning of the conversation.
Beginning of the conversation, some of us have been long
before. Some of you started this work fighting for
communities. So my question is within a year, do we expect
an ordinance on a such? You know what is going to be the
communication between the agencies that again, I'm really
concerned about the lack of coordination
at the,
I thank you for the question and I do think it is important
to note. As I stated previously that we agree coordination
across all levels of environmental enforcement agencies and
authorities is critical to this work. That we have been
providing briefings to the Cook County team. That manages,
of course, you are monitoring Network and has some related
authorities in this face to the state of Illinois through
the Illinois EPA director, as well as to Region 5
leadership, including the regional administrator. So they
are very aware of and supportive of this work and we've
already begun conversations about what is it look like to
harmonize some of these requirements and regulations and
even enforcement activities to your point across each of
these agencies to ensure that we are holding companies
meaningfully accountable and that we're creating a
regulatory scheme. That makes sense, right? You note for
our business communities, they also deserve Clarity when it
comes to how to navigate, you know, these levels of rules.
And requirements, I think another important point with
respect to
Enforce.
enforcement is that that we
Enforcement is that that requires capacity and we've been
very grateful to the city for additional support, should
have come in the form of investment through the Chicago
recovery plan in additional technical staff are
environmental inspectors are environmental Engineers, we
need to make those sorts of Investments permanent. They
can't be contingent upon short-term grant funding. This is
the sort of capacity that we need to build to the future.
If we are serious about this enforcement Rule and the
question about the timeline. Yes. So what we have promised
and what we are held you by the environmental justice
executive order is that by September 1st. We will finalize
this assessment which will include recommendations and
legislative language or an ordinance and from that point
forward between September 1st and October 31st is the time.
Where we want to eat and hopefully come back to this
committee to share those findings with you to talk about
the policy recommendations. And then I know I can speak for
those, it at least this table.
Say we are here and ready to work on and it and vicious
timeline to try to move that sort of policy forward. And I
think that's the kind of work that we can do in in
collaboration with you all last one in terms of reporting
back. Is there a, what is the mechanisms? Like, again, I'm
glad that you are going to be in Fiesta Del Sol a team that
we expect that there would be some kind of reporting back,
right before the council members again. And I'll tell you
right now, he's under people's body.
Commute.
Community pool.
Community include award in the conversations that never
happened. And I tell you that those conversations you under
the new Administration must be transparent. I think,
blindsiding alderman for other person's. I think it's
something that I hope that we don't see. And I'm glad I'm
not getting Commander, the chair for having hearings, right
or the back. Hopefully, we got a hit, you know, through the
chair report back. Maybe in a regular hearing, this is a
key framework and I caught that we have a partnership that
is a partnership of collaboration and work dinner together
and that the politics are turning off Mike's when things
are inconvenient. Thank you, thank you. And I know that
we're already talking about the next hearing for those
initial findings and have you been had some initial
conversations for this Committee of having some committee
meetings out in community? Sounds absolutely. I with you on
that older woman may not happen where
Thank.
Thank you, chair, and congratulations on your first
Community. I want to let him know what happened, where it's
on the 48th, Ward and Aston Villa, Edgewater and Uptown.
And I want you to, you know, acknowledge the sense of
urgency that Alderman Lopez is going forward. And also
recognized that I'm a mother to you. I really thank you
again, for all of your work in your community, and your
commitment to stay to fight, or your family, and, or for
others, really.
Incredibles.
incredible to me that we are talking about how
We at the body want to hold ourselves accountable and bring
in every single Department that touches air land and water.
Is is blowing my mind right now.
My.
My question is and I appreciate all the data that you are
collecting, it is essential for us to be data-driven. And
for the many hours you've spent Community engagement over
the deck. I look forward to whatever comes out of, this
isn't the first coordinates. I'm, I'm excited to see and I
also I'm ready to dig into the reports, including how do
overlays with the mares transition report? I know that 80%
of the time policies fail in implementation and so I am
curious to know, firstly, it also is a bit outstanding to
me how much you have done with the resources that you have.
So my question is,
Do.
G4.
Do you foresee in the future and need to have a department
of environment?
Yes. It's all right. I can take that question. So we are
also in the process which we can, we can we are scheduled
to have a public hearing on this as well, in the spirit of
transparency. We are now doing an environmental governance
study. That looks at we're at as as Megan noted that the
capacity issue with the inspectors as just being one point
of that. But we have done a, a pretty robust analysis at
both, the capacity that we have currently as a city and
then to talk to people, we've had focus groups. We've had
11 conversations with leadership here in this room. We've
had a public survey that has gone out. We have also
interviewed former employees of the Department of
environment that still works here at the city. And as well
as people who spend the majority of their time, working on
environmental functions, on behalf of the city to identify
the most appropriate mod,
Ford.
for the
For the city of Chicago, in terms of enforcing this policy
and terms of advancing our climate goals and in terms of
ensuring that our environmental operations are top-notch.
And so there, we have also worked in partnership with a
consultant to do a benchmarking of other cities.
To.
To understand how their Departments of environment or their
Public Health departments or whoever, you know, takes a
tad, their environment, whoever takes up their environment
that they we can understand how they're structured and
where their revenue sources are coming from. And so the the
hope is that we will be coming back to this committee very
soon to have it a hearing on that and to provide a menu of
options for consideration in time. For the budget, we very
intentionally a lined it with this budget season so that we
can take action. Now to ensure that we have the appropriate
capacity that's required for this. And for many of the
other things we've discussed today,
Thank.
Thank you. I'm in the last comment I have is that I know
that this work is has been long coming to come to fruition?
And I know that what you're doing is having a elastic will
have a lasting impact on every neighborhood in Chicago. No
matter what ZIP code, we live in a thank you for your work.
and,
Thank.
And you got Alderman, Ray Lopez and then old woman, Monique
Scott. And then that is really the last question for this
group. Just we do have a few time constraints on our
comment, folks, and I want to make sure we have time for
questions. I'm Alderman Lopez.
Thank.
Thank you, chairman and good morning, members of the
committee. I'm sure, doesn't mind waiting. They could keep
the lights on for us. I hear they're good at their. I've
been holding that this entire time since you said that. So,
I hope you have a few more. Like I've got a few more
one-liners, don't worry.
but if
But if I'm a good morning to the panel here, a couple quick
questions who from business industry or other groups was a
part of the data and methods working group.
I saw.
So the deed and methods group does include representatives
from Chicago's Department of Planning and Development,
industry representation is through dpd's engagement with
their Leary's and their industrial council's. So I've come
to those sessions and presented to to those organizations
representing business interests. After I have another
meeting with them coming up, I believe tomorrow where we'll
be doing more dialogue with those sorts of organizations to
hear from them, about how they quantify benefits and
burdens of their activities. What they see as ways in which
the city can encourage, more sustainable development and
hear it.
Places to buy.
Voices directly to inform the overall assessment. So we are
using basically umbrella groups when it comes to business
and industry event specific commit and specific
not-for-profits when it comes to participation Valley.
Reason the industrial town in question for the
communications and engagement working group.
Gage my
Engagement.
Engagement working group has focused on how to ensure that
there's been effective public, Outreach and awareness and
transparency in this work. So that is included
representation from the people for Community recovery. And
from Neighbors, Freakonomics by myself from the business or
industry or like-minded.
They?
Demographics are participating in this working group, they
are welcomed and encouraged to attend the event or not.
Thank you publicize. The policy working group. Same
question, how many food from business industry or other are
participants in this? Working group the end of
interdepartmental am assuming that is for the city of
Chicago. Correct. So, the questions that I have are we
heard a lot about increasing accessibility and
collaboration when it comes to trade in the cumulative
report and no, we see this pattern.
okay, to
getting itself in and appearing here in this document as
well as we're not fully engaging, the full breadth and
scope of everyone impacted by what we're discussing namely
the industry and business communities who are
The other end of the equation in this dialogue. So I would
press the working groups.
And is committed before considering any kind of legislation
or movement forward that we make a strategic and concerted
effort to include members of the business Community include
members of the industry as well as others, who would be
directly impacted. Clearly. When we state that this is
about being together, everyone that touches air land and
water. There are individuals who do that. As part of the
overall economy that is Chicago. And if we are creating
laws and and policies that exclude them, it's going to set
us up for failure to be perfectly honest. And I don't think
any of us want to see failure. I think we all understand
that Chicago for nearly two hundred years has been a very
greedy town in many parts of the neighborhood. I represent
the Stockyards which is most famously, highly industrial,
highly unhealthy.
area, because the
Area because of just the nature of what we do, but I would
not want them unless excluded from the conversation on
anything that we're putting forward.
The.
The other question that I have is that, you know, and
discussing the cumulative benefits, which I don't know,
which like that was that it was discussed that there are
number of non-tangible items that need to be taken in or
that you're hoping to take into account with this report
matters of, you know, the non-tangible quality-of-life
issue is I heard smell, you know, aesthetic, things of that
nature.
but I
But I guess my question is, if we are going to have
Read.
Recourse in the law for Action to be taken then.
How do?
Are you play metrics for things that are unquantifiable?
An.
and as such
How do?
How do you?
how do you make judgments on things that are
unquantifiable?
The weather.
So, I think part of what we Embrace, when we take a
cumulative, impacts approach, is this concept that there
are things, we can measure that are known, you can look at
air quality and a mission, and then you can put a number on
that. And then there are things that affect people's day
today, live realities and quality of life, in fence, line,
neighborhoods and places near highways. And those are I
think more difficult to hang a number on. When we think
about how do we bring 10 of scientific rigor into the work
and that is why we have really adopted a qualitative
mixed-methods approach where we have said it's not going to
be as simple as you just crank numbers into a formula and
it spits out. You know this development is okay this one is
not okay it's going to be a multifactorial trait of a
balancing that in some cases may fall to a zoning board's
to weigh in a various factors. In some cases, there may be
places where we can say definitively you know this sort of
a development has impacts of a type that cannot
a medicated and therefore, cannot move forward in a
neighborhood. That is experiencing disproportionate burden,
but I think there will also be close calls. And I think
what we have to set up are and what we hope to work with
you to establish through policy-making are really, what are
those factors that should be considered, how should they be
weighed and balanced? Are there places where we put
threshold in place to further protect communities, and are
there places where there needs to be room for judgment room
for
Russian.
Russian Inn in decision-making, and part of that is also
about bringing Community voice into the process and hearing
directly from those most affected about how they
experience, those benefits. And those burdens to assist in
that bouncing, a thank you. So, I guess, sure, and for the
committee, you know, those are the two words that get us in
trouble in this judgment and discretion. And when you are
trying to make decisions on things that are non Quan ngon,
I want.
I want to.
Quantifiable, you're trying to make judgment calls.
Is.
What?
What's?
What smells bad in one neighborhood considered bad in. In
the next is that these are things that are going to open us
up to lawsuits. When you start telling people that they
purchase a lot where they have the buy, right action to
build and some third-party policy decides that? No, because
we don't like the Shrubbery are we don't like the the smell
or we don't like the type of vehicle you use because it
doesn't fit in our. Our scale are scaling approach to
govern government and that is going to cause us. Not only
problem is, it's going to cost a lot worse than the ones
that we're seeing now coming at us from the 10th or so, I
think that as this working group continues to do what it's
doing, you know, I'm sure the Law Department would probably
agree that the more defined we are and what is or what
isn't allowable.
The better, it.
The better. It sounds good to say. We're going to take into
account all the factors that we cannot quantify, but at the
end of the day, that is where judgment gets us into trouble
and I think will cause more problems. Thank you. I'm in
Lopez at one of the things I'll say is one. I do hope every
member of the committee reads the initial reports because
we will have a lot to have it argue. Our job is using
judgment and discretion. Much of what we do is older people
is using judgment and discretion within the decisions that
we make every day in our Ward and so much of what we do is
Representatives actually based on qualitative data every
time you hear a constituent service request, the
information that you pick up there are some things we make
decisions on that are based on quantitative data. But most
of what we do is quality
What's the?
so, I
So I would caution folks against discounting the value of
that lived experience is qualitative data. The other thing,
I would know it is, I'm sure that will get more in the
recommendations about what kind of input are coming from
industry. But as you were noting about why they're not at
in the working group's, I'd say I think in the statements
in the presentation
and,
And there is plenty of.
And there is plenty of quantitative data backed us up.
Industry is dominated our decision-making process and our
code for decades. And it's why we are where we are today.
And so when we look at Equitable approaches, how we do
things is just as important as what we too, which means you
got to stack the deck with people who have not had voice
and who have not had power. These industries have plenty of
money. They have plenty of power and they have plenty of
access the share information, but I also definitely heard
from our departments and I think we recognized the the
challenges that we have is a city is that as a city we rely
on industry and we rely on business for a key part of some
of our driving economy. So I think your points are noted
and I'm sure that the working group is certainly taking
those things into account. And even more importantly, I'm
sure all of us as we get into decision-making, we'll have
to use our judgment
An.
And discretion and discernment in weighing and our own way,
right? Where our points are what's what's worth more? It's
it's what we do every day. So I think those are important
points and I appreciate them. I've got all them in Monique
Scott and then we really are changing out.
Thank.
Thank you.
So I just have a few questions. What determines
Apple.
A public of the department, what determines a Public Health
crisis, I guess.
Serve a formal Public Health, Emergency declaration along
the lines of what we saw in covid. Or are you asking more
experienced in the 23rd and the 24th? Ward, the 25th Ward
27, 29th and 37th, Ward have all had severe, flooding. So
with flooding comes, mold comes fastest, and no one has no.
I mean, when I say, absolutely no one has communicated to
my ward office, we are fighting by ourselves with the
constituents. And no one has reached out to the Department
of Water. Stop by probably June 5th to acknowledge that we
had flooding.
The incident.
The incident happened, June 2nd, June 11th is when the
governor declared declared a state of emergency, but when
water sit, and no one is giving direction of what I should
do that. I don't, I'm, I'm lost in translation of what
we're doing here because it's not working for the 24th or
25th, 227, 29th and 37th. Ward and again, black and brown
community. So there's there's a disparity of what's
important because I'm not getting it in my ward and the
constituents in my ward need answers, not about money for
me, it's a Health crisis because right now, you should look
at the alley Where mattresses and old molded phone at
furniture sitting in the alley Street and Santa working
extremely hard because everything is sitting everything. We
have senior citizens, who probably cannot get some of their
stuff out. It's a crisis, and no one is addressing it, and
no one has
May.
made any of us aware of what is going on. And I'm asking,
is that? Because of we're sitting in black and brown
communities? Because no one has reached out, maybe if, if I
can also want to clarify the question. So are you asking
cdph and the Office of Environmental and sustainable and
activity. If they have had any engagement with streets and
San or with the Department of Water Management around the
flooding crisis.
add, or even for
Add or even previously had what we recently had a September
11th, we had big flooding as well. So maybe if you guys can
speak to what rules, your departments have in those
engagements? Sure. So they're still, there is an
interagency team that is being led by OMC, and I do believe
that there are multiple infrastructure, Department,
streets, and sand and water, being two of them. In terms of
the street Outreach that is being led by them. We have been
more focused on the broader policy issues. And then of
course, when the air quality quick Crisis happen ensuring,
just given how those departments have primarily focused on
infrastructure challenges before and have had not not had
to Grapple with air quality and we played more of a
prominent role, but because those are those infrastructure
challenges related to flooding have typically been led by
the infrastructure departments and we were not tapped to be
a part of that conversation.
Full extent.
Full extent that we were on air quality but I can certainly
make sure and follow up with you older to make sure that we
are connecting you with the appropriate resources. I do
know that that team has been working across various Ward.
Had to make sure the people are getting the services that
they need and we can. And I can commit to following up with
you either for the chair or just independently to make sure
that you have are connected to the right people, including
the commissioner. So this is Land Air, land, air and water,
right?
I just are.
I just are, I want to, I want to point out cuz I think what
you're talkin about alderwoman Scott is a gaff.
It is.
It's a gap in, in this goes to, you know, I don't mind IHOP
in West Point about our need for Department of environment,
many of us here have been championing that, and I can say,
you know, our community and the 49th Ward and 48th and
others had similar impacts at, that September 11th flood
and there currently is nothing. So just to say that there
is nothing, right? Suites in Saint, will come into the
extra pick up water management will come and do things, but
we had to deal with things as older people and try and give
our best advice to constituents. We didn't meet at the
emergency declaration disaster threshold the last time and
so individual constituents were left on the financial peace
alone, but I think you bring up a great point about the
public health issue. We know we've got a shared, write a
water drainage system. So we know that when we get the pack
up at sewage, they're definitely Health components and so
Oh, I think what we're here?
Oh I think what we're hearing in the community impact
pieces, they're working on something that hasn't been done
before. That is going to make recommendations to help us
than legislate. Those gaps that were filling, but sounds
like for right now we should definitely get you out reach
from that oemc team. So I think that would be very helpful
from from Angela for a follow-up and I think that through
our committee is I think we're going to keep saying this,
right? Like we know we're going to keep having these issues
and so maybe that's something we can work with our city
Partners in one. Getting you an immediate Outreach and then
to working on what should be a broader response other than
just streets and Sand and Water Management? And what are
the responses do we need in order to protect the health of
our constituents? Oh, thank you.
I will.
I want to thank our departments and community members for
all of your work. I don't have. Thank you for all of your
future work.
cuz,
Cuz there's a lot. So let's just do. Maybe we can do a
two-minute recess for a changeover in the Box. 2 minute
recess its 11:39 and 20 seconds. Be back here at 11:41.
Oh my God.
Alright.
I'd
I do.
Item to on our agenda for today. So second item is comment,
summer preparedness subject matter hearing all members of
the committee should have received an email. Containing
questions that we submitted to ComEd ahead of today's
meeting. They've been asked to prepare and present some
data pretty mehrauli today. So I know we might have a lot
of questions for ComEd
Right? They are prepared as prepared as they can be. We are
going to try and keep most of this focused on the grid,
reliability, the summer data, but we are going to have them
back. So just want to let you know, for kind of their full
report in that they normally do with their annual report.
And then of course, we know that we've got a pending
franchise agreement discussion, we are not talking about
the franchise agreement today. So just letting you know, if
you've got specific questions to that, you can ask them but
will probably put things through the chair and we will set
up something. I'm with our Administration to work more on
that going forward. So there's going to be sometime after
the hearing for questions after their presentation. I'm
hopefully, they'll cover a lot of what we submitted to them
in advance during their presentation. And of course, we'll
have questions. And there are a few questions. I think that
if you guys will know that we sent a few questions that,
Get some.
He did submit to them that they were not able to prepare
answers and data for in a timely matter. I'll speak to that
and some of that don't get through the chair after this
meeting. So today from ComEd, we've got Gil Quinones. We've
got Terrance Donnelly, Michelle blais Melissa, Washington,
Cheryl maletic, and Nicole Owens. Presenting a couple of
our presenters to have to leave at 12:30. And so we're
going to let them get started with their presentations and
then just let us know if you are. One of the folks who have
to leave at 12:30. Maybe just let us know in your
statement. That way we can make sure to prioritize
questions, that might be specifically for you.
Daily going to start sucks. Thank you. And I will be one of
those who have to leave at that 12:30. A good morning,
chair, hadn't vice-chairman, Knudsen. And its members of
the committee, I am guilting, Jonas, I am the Chief
Executive Officer of ComEd. I am pleased to have had the
chance to meet with many of you already. Of course, you're
familiar with our external Affairs team.
Where look?
We're looking.
We're looking forward to working with all of you in the
month. I have strengthening a partnership that spends more
than 100 years. Our collaboration is essential given the
scale of the challenges, we Face climate change. A Brinks
increasingly severe weather which interns bring stress to
the grid and risk of power outages. The loss of power
specially during the hot summer months is a grave risk to
the health and safety of Chicago Ones, especially in our
most vulnerable communities.
So,
So what, did so at comment? We have made a strategic set of
Investments to strengthen the power grid.
There is.
The results speak for themselves, meds reliability is among
the best of all large US electric companies and it was
better in 2022 than in any year. On record, here in
Chicago, we experienced fewer outages than any other time
recorded beating the closest record except in the prior
year by 21%.
Did.
To continue providing nation-leading reliability to the
families and businesses. We serve we are taking proactive
measures to manage climate risk designing the grid for the
next Heat Wave not the last one.
Neck.
Next, I'd like to introduce comments president and Chief
Operating Officer Terri Donnelly. Who will tell you more
about the challenges, our grid faces today and how we're
planning for the future with that. I'll turn it over to
Terry since he is retiring at the end of the year after 40
Years of distinguished service.
Did.
Today will be a two-day summer preparedness hearing and the
subsequent September hearing held by this committee will be
his last, I'm joining you on behalf of, Mary. Thank you,
kill. And it's been a privilege to serve all of our
customers. Over my career and look forward to continued
collaboration in the future, such a rewarding job with such
fantastic people and the folks that we partner with us
while so I can't say enough about that. Thank you, feeling,
good, morning chair and two members of the committee I'm
sorry Donnelly or turn Stanley on the president and chief
operating
sure,
Commonwealth Edison.
I pray.
I appreciate the opportunity to be here with you. Again,
I've been here many years for Chicago summer preparedness,
hearing, I look forward to our broader conversation as the
chair mention in September. I thank the city for having
these hearings year-over-year.
because,
Because it signals the importance of safe, reliable, secure
and affordable energy for our customers and communities.
It's important, it's important issue, and you signal that.
I haven't decearing. For today's hearing, we have two of
our seasoned senior Executives will provide greater
details. The actions. We are taking for the grid and our
customers in Chicago, senior vice president, Technical
Services in our chief engineer. To my right, Michelle
blais, I've had the privilege. Work with closely for many
years on the improvements that we've made Michelle.
Describe the steps comment is taking to improve
reliability, good resilience in it infrastructure security.
Play.
Late.
Later Melissa Washington to my left, senior vice president
of customer operations, and chief customer officer. That
I've also had to pull the privilege of working with many
years on our improvements will tell you about the ways, it
is expanding customer assistance to help lower the burden
for those least able to afford the bills at a critical
time, the work we've done with the city to ensure.
You're meeting the needs.
You're meeting the needs of its residents and businesses
has resulted in the best reliability. Our customers have
ever experienced, it's an 81% Improvement since the
five-year average from 2007 to 2011, a five-year average
81%. And that's for the city
Delete.
Delivering clean, affordable, and reliable power to
customers in Chicago and Beyond is more important now than
ever before. And I know many of, you know, the very real
and persistent threats fueled by climate change. We had the
other person talk about the flooding and more frequent and
severe storms and longer hide or stump Summers. This is
real and it's urgent. And just the last two weeks, we
narrowly missed severe weather that knocked out power to
more than 270,000 people. Downstate?
and,
and if
And this way.
And this was preceded by record, rainfall, and flooding, as
we heard locally, one of our substations in Cicero was
completely flooded and our switchgear submerge. We've been
working 24/7, as we speak to put that back. This type of
weather is no longer. The exception in the weather is not
the only challenge the system cases. For example, the rapid
growth of distributed energy resources, like solar and a
shift from fossil fuels to electricity. Also create a
unique set of issues.
East.
Is tangible shift toward a more sustainable future. Create
the potential for higher Peak demands, which stresses
equipment beyond what was originally designed to withstand
larger fluctuations in power quality in a very Dynamic flow
of energy that requires Advanced sensors and advanced
control systems to make this all work. Our job, we take it
seriously. It's the make sure this works and it works to
the benefit of our communities and customers that's our
charge and we take it very seriously wiping. We've been
doing work to improve and maintain a great. We must
continue to build Upon Our progress to meet these new
demands. Our job is to make it all work, like I said, for
the benefit of customers and communities and we plan to do
just that
,
Comment multi-year plans filed with Regulators earlier this
year. We'll prioritize modernizing the grid to ensure it
becomes even more reliable, more resilient as Renewables
and electrification. Significantly significantly ramped up
and our plans will also bring the benefits of clean energy
to all customers, including residents of equity investment
eligible communities, also, referred to as eiec
Did.
To discuss in Greater detail, is our preparation. Not only
that for this summer, but for the future. I'm glad to turn
this over to our chief engineer, Michelle Place, Michelle
Thank.
Thank you Terry. Good, morning chair hadn't and vice-chair
Knutson in the members of the committee will also need to
leave at 12:30, but thank you for the opportunity to
provide this briefing on our operational. Plans to ensure
safe reliable and resilient summer. For customers in the
city of Chicago here in Illinois and Across the Nation. The
need for Reliable and resilient grid is more important than
ever before, as demand for clean affordable, and reliable
power grows. At the same time today's power grid faces a
number of challenges as noted by, by Gill and Terry and
ComEd is committed to addressing them by 4 key areas that
were focused on one continuing to deliver the top-notch
reliability, and resilience and resilience that we have two
planning for summer weather in the impacts of climate
change and increase the men.
XXX.
Electrification.
3 leveraging, emergency preparedness to protect the public
and mitigate infrastructure, security threats and enforce
Lee building upon our past performance and develop
comprehensive plans for the clean energy transformation
ahead.
We are continually looking at analyzing the challenges
facing our grid, and we continue to prioritize modernizing
the grid to ensure it remains reliable and resilient while
taking action to ensure that it's prepared for the years to
come. I'd like to briefly take you through the latest
reliability metrics for 2020 2020 to last year, said,
markets best reliability performance in our history with
fewer outages than ever before. And outages that were
shorter in duration, didn't years passed through
investments in the smart grid program. We've achieved
industry-leading reliability, leave improve the city's
overall reliability. By more than 80% since our work
started about a decade ago,
Over.
Overall 3.6 million customers more options have been
avoided in the city since 2012 due to our in the
Investments that we made. It is and we're continuing our
industry-leading, reliability and producing more than five
hundred and ten million dollars in societal savings,
including avoided business losses. We broke a reliability
record in 2022 and we're on track to achieve that
record-breaking results again in 2023, targeted
reliability, upgrades. I performed across all the Chicago
wards.
In support of the state.
In support of the State, climate and Equitable jobs at,
come and continue in and support of seizure, continues to
measure of reliability performance, for Equity investment,
eligible, communities or d. I c a t i c includes
environmental justice communities and our three
communities. That's restore, we invest in renew, souls in
2022 Chicago, customers neic, communities experience, on
average outage index, the reliability of 32 minutes with an
outage frequency of .35, meaning on average, customers
experience by One Outage every three years compared to 2021
this performance is 33% better went over all rely. When you
look at overall, reliability was 48 minutes and outage
frequency was Point by 4.
These.
these were
These reliability improvements provide strong momentum, as
come at moves into another summer season while we're proud
to continue, delivering liability for a customer's, we know
that we can take things for granted. Especially at a time
when ComEd makes friends, unprecedented. Electric the man,
come at is ready for the summer. We understand the
significant risks and increasing hot and severe weather
poses to our cut, through our system. In our customers,
come out undertakes, a rigorous process to forecast, load
pressure test, our system and run.
Grill.
Drills to prepare our teams in cases of severe weather in
emergencies examples of being ready. Include, we're
verifying all portable generators of every size that they
were ready for the summer and then testing early and
completing all repairs prior to the summer. Ensuring that
our substation flooding. Mitigation plan is up-to-date and
taking necessary actions to reduce risk. This step in
particular paid off last week with the torrential rains
that caused flooding. And in some of our facilities,
completing an in-depth Supply Reading is plan, which
includes confirming that inventory is available from our
key suppliers stocking, mobile storm, trailers, utilized
for severe storms in developing mitigation plans for any
disruptions to the supply chain for critical inventory. And
finally completing All City of Chicago, summer Readiness
projects.
Increase.
And corrective maintenance items in plant inspection
inspections by the end of spring to mitigate the risk for
long-duration outages during the summer.
Earl.
Early.
Earlier this spring, the National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration or NOAA forecast at above-average
temperatures, nationally with 433 to 40% likelihood of
above-average temperatures for June July and August
Chicago's, no exception, no expects more more.
3 Degree Days in normal this year, following the
record-setting heat stretches. We saw last year last year,
the city, the city, counted. A whopping 31 days where the
temperature reach ninety degrees, above the long-term,
average of 16 days. That's why all about that was, well,
above the long-term average of 16 days, a recent climate
risk assessment, that was commissioned by comed in
conducted, by the Argonne National Lab indicates. That
severe weather will show no signs of stopping in the years
ahead. In fact, mid-century climate forecasts expects that
our region will see more intense and prolonged heat waves
and summer months which will be implemented by higher
humidity. All of this will place stress on the grid.
Elevating the likelihood of outages if additional
Investments to reduce the impact of climate change are not
made.
Yeah.
BMO.
be a
The impacts of rapidly changing weather patterns aren't
Unicom, Ed the August 2020. The ratio was the worst storm
in comments. Recent history with hurricane-force winds in
intensive. Lightning extensive lightning, golf ball-sized
hail and 13. Confirmed tornadoes in our service territory,
including one in the city of Chicago, the storm had a
regional impact causing damage across a wide swath of our
territory knocking out.
How?
Power to approximately 800,000 customers of which 142,000
were city of Chicago, customers for the smart grid
Investments that we had made the, we we estimate that. The
2020 duration would have caused more than seven more than
700,000 more outages and taking nearly two weeks to
restore.
Call.
ComEd, please a vital role in our customers everyday lives,
especially in the case of severe weather, that, that
disrupts service come in, in recognition of this comment,
consistently reviews and improves its processes to ensure.
We're safe, quick and efficient, and restoring customers
during storms and other severe weather events to test those
processes, come and prepares for the summer season by
completing hundreds of tasks maintenance. Inspections, as
well as conducting restoration drills and reviewing our
emergency procedures. This past April, we held our
bi-annual operation, PowerPlay Statewide emergency drill at
Soldier Field. This exercise brought together, participants
from public and private agencies, including local County
state and federal governments to communicate with each
other to respond.
Send.
Simulated disaster.
Simulated disasters, Trot Illinois, this year's exercise,
included included, a substation shooting drill with
Chicago, police and fire, departments the annual summer
Readiness exercise for ComEd. Emergency response, teams
were completed throughout the month of March, April and May
Is.
As it relates to security, protecting our electric
infrastructure and ensuring continued security, safety and
reliability for our customers are top priorities. We work
throughout the year and the poor Investments to ensure our
energy grid systems and locations are secured and protected
in terms of cyber and physical security or emergency
response organization. Also conducts regular drills and
collaborates with government and Industry Partners to
develop and deploy new ways to address constantly evolving
threats, and protect the safe reliable service. Our
customers expect
Come at.
Come as emergency preparedness and security Personnel are
in regular contact with numerous federal state and local
security agencies and other key stakeholders, including on
embedded ComEd employee in the Chicago office of emergency
management and Communications, this enables us to stay
updated on any potential threats and major summer events.
Such as NASCAR, Taste of Chicago and other large Gathering.
So that were able to respond safely.
Clear as possible. If needed the nation's electricity
providers, investor-owned electric companies, electric
cooperatives, and Public Power utilities, continuously,
Monitor, and prepare for threats to the grid and other
infrastructure.
Through.
Through the federal. Government's electricity sub-sector.
Coordinating coordinating Council. We partner with a
government to share information and to develop coordinated
responses to incidents. Such as the recent substation
events, that occurred in North Carolina and Washington
State repair does not stop or slow down after the summer,
come after Works year-round with the city of Chicago to
perform, reliability enhancements and corrective
maintenance to address localized. Reliability concerns. We
actively partner on planning and maintenance of power
infrastructure Citywide. We have made a series of
Investments, to modernize our infrastructure, which include
smart grid and enhancements over the past 11 years.
Need.
music by
These Investments have helped strengthen the system within
the city. In the following ways are main line underground
program. We replace nearly 700 miles of cable, throttle
system. With over 23,000 manholes inspected and refurbished
today. This resulted in an outage reduction of 60% or 2.3
million customer interruptions avoided from underground
failures.
this is,
Distribution way.
Distribution wood poles, we have to inspect it, 214,000
poles in the city and replace a refurbished. Nearly five
thousand of them to strengthen the backbone of our overhead
system. We've also conducted substation. Monetization
programs in our vegetation management Citywide across all.
50 yard 50, Wards the challenges. Our infrastructure must
withstand storms extreme, heat security threats, require
long-term planning and investment to ensure continued
reliability, the Oregon study. I mentioned earlier
recommends, that comment plan and build infrastructure that
is more resilient to climate change today's grid. Wasn't it
was not built for all the things. We will need to do in the
years ahead.
We have.
We have new weather patterns that will test the limits of
the existing until the equipment standards and will create
a challenging operational environment at the same time,
electrification will place even more Reliance on the grid.
As electricity demand increases as you heard, Terry mention
earlier in his remarks are recently filed. Multi-year,
plan, outlined the Investments required to ensure continued
reliability in the face of growing climate in cyber
threats, while enabling clean energy resources, like solar
electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other technologies that
will contribute to the effort to fight climate changed. The
plan that we submitted recognizes our requirements and go
Outline by.
Outline by the queen Equitable jobs act procedure, which
emphasized the transition to clean and sustainable energy
sources, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions increase
use of renewable energy in a commitment to provide these
benefits equitably to all customers by incorporating
strategies and Investments to align with these objectives.
Cease.
CJ.
Seizure sets in Bishop's environmental and Equitable Mendes
in Target that require significant Investments. Beyond the
regular maintenance reliability is of the grid. The plans,
take these mandates into account and outline the additional
Investments needed to achieve the goals of seizure, which
includes enhancing grid infrastructure and capability to
accelerate decarbonization
all of our efforts have and will continue to be undertaken
with an eye toward, resiliency of our communities, and our
grid, and ensuring the best service to our customers here
in Chicago and across our system, as we continue to make
much-needed investments in the grid. We have not lost sight
of our focus and affordability. This is especially
important as we aim to lessen, the burden of our most
vulnerable customers and prevent them from falling behind
on their bills. At a time, when power is so critical, I'll
now turn it over to my colleague, Melissa Washington to
discuss more about the ways, that is providing customer
assistance.
You hear?
You hear me now? All right, good morning and thanks,
Michelle. As Michelle stated on Melissa Washington. I lead
our customer operations and I'm very pleased to be here to
speak to you about that and specifically our customers,
just from a philosophy perspective, our goal really is to
provide our customers with an excellent experience. Every
time that they engage with us, we do recognize that
customers really heavily influence or think about their
experience based upon two significant factors and that is
how reliable we are. And from the portability perspective
how much they're paying for the service or the value, they
believe they're getting Michelle, just talk to you and gave
you an overview that reflects our record level,
reliability.
We?
We are all.
We are also proud to share that, as average. Monthly bill
is among the lowest in the nation are residential.
Customers bills are approximately 20%, lower than the
average of the 10. Largest US metropolitan areas that we
benchmarked against despite this. We know hardships can
occur that make it difficult for a customers to pay their
bills.
That.
That is why.
That is why we're committed to providing a variety of bill
assistance options to meet each customer's unique needs we
regularly evaluate our profolio for enhancements and
opportunities to provide additional support and that's why
we have a pretty robust portfolio of options for customers
to pick from. We also expanded our collaboration with
various Community organizations to bring Support Services
directly into the communities that need them. The most
through July 6th of this year. These efforts has helped us
connect more than $79,000 Coggins to support totaling
nearly 30 million dollars in financial assistance. When you
compare this to 2022 from a full year basis, we helped
about 211,000, Chicago customers and have them get access
to about a hundred and twenty nine million dollars and
financial assistance.
At 9.
And I take it back, that's fine. I'll lend support for
Chicago, specifically. We connected 106,000 customers and
that support total 62 million dollars and bill assistance
The reason we do look at it from a holistic perspective is
because as I mentioned, not every customer needs the exact
same help. So there's a variety of things that we offer.
Some of these were new programs that we launched this year.
Fresh start Services as a program where we really look at
the customers and try to understand what options might be
best for them, Guided by the call center representatives,
and we try to make sure that they also have access to
energy management tools and energy-efficiency. Offerings
your neighborhood fund are your neighbors. Find is a
comment employees donating money into a fund that customers
can sign up to get help and we use a nonprofit organization
to facilitate that program and we do campaigns throughout
the year to encourage employees to be a good neighbor.
We also have a program we call SARP and that means
supplemental arrearage Reduction Program. This program
helps customers eliminate past due balances and it's
available to come at residential customers who also
received assistance from LIHEAP
And they.
and then there's another
And then there's another program called ketchup and say,
which is a bundle program because we take people who can be
eligible for their work program and we again introduce them
to energy-efficiency products that can help them manage
their their bill. So keep their bills lower and couple it
with eliminating arrearages going forward.
Customers are also allowed to enter into deferred payment in
a plan so they can defer and pay their bill over 12 month.
This is just a simple way to allow them to smooth out and
make their payments in the stall mats. In addition to the
regular deal when they do find themselves in a past due
status, budget billing is also a tool that has been around
for many years and it's still available and again it's
based upon the usage that you have and it's a good way to
predict and have a consistent way of knowing what your bill
will be.
We?
We are.
We all.
We also offer you. No other extensions. You can pick your
due date. Some people like to manage that based upon when
they know they'll have cash and access to funding and then
there's also extensions if you should need it. Some of the
things that we look at to is helping customers know when
they have a high usage month and we do encourage people to
sign up for how usage alert. And then they will also
receive different tips on how to manage their bill. We're
constantly looking for ways to educate customers on small
things they can do to take control and ways that they can
say. We also want, bro, I hate it. I hate to interrupt your
one moment. I know this is the last part of the
presentation but I'm checking our time.
I know this is.
I know this is very useful information and you guys have
actually been pretty generous in providing us with some
answers around the customer support and healing. If you
don't mind just knowing that there's only a few minutes
before Michelle and Terry has to leave. I did want to ask a
couple of questions to get a started here. That is no
problem at all. I just wanted to say, I have a guy, can I
got your message? But still that's no problem at all. You
have their formation. I think what I will do is wrap up and
say, you know, from our perspective, one of the things that
we really tried to do is focus on getting customers access
to the funds that's there, because we have had years, were
the funding did not get fully deployed. So we partnered,
they are. And that's why these resource fairs, that we've
been holding, we have another one coming up, the end of
this month have been so effective because we partner to
bring it other resources that we can't provide. So,
You'll have.
You'll happy to talk to anyone further about it and you
always have access to the external Affairs team to bring us
in for more information. Thank you, thank you, thank you so
much. Thank you all for providing us with so many answers.
I wanted to get us started with a couple of questions and
then open it up for the committee. One was it, and this is
for our record and also some reminder things to shape some
of our questions today. So,
We are.
We all think very broadly, from a lay person perspective
about ComEd and energy. But if you guys could speak a
little bit about the relationship between ComEd, as an
energy supplier versus an energy producer and ensure that
it is in the nature of a question was wondering what
percentage of the energy supplied to Chicago? Right now?
It's coming from Renewables versus fossil fuels or more
traditional forms of energy production.
It.
It just takes a moment. I may not have the exact number but
if you fight, I don't have the renewable number handy. But
when you look well, first of all we're not a generator,
right? So where were a transmission and Distribution
Company and we interconnect Renewables, we interconnect
wind solar there, some assets, like batteries that are part
of our system to help but we we interconnect and
developers, install wind solar and there's policy support
for that. When you look in aggregate, I think two or our
generation match to load. Were an excess of about 90%
clean. Now. Now, when we say that, okay, clean memes.
Renewables and new.
Renewables and nuclear. All right. So just to be clear, I
don't have the renewable number. Now it's it's definitely a
small, a much smaller number because we're in the beginning
of that transformation. But I'd say about I and you know,
this is subject to just validation cuz I'm just doing it. I
think it's about 90 ninety-plus percent when you match
generation dishes to our system, to our customers load on
sort of a 24-hour profile basis. It's it's it's over 90%
And A lot of people are surprised by that. And and up with
CJ, it's going to be the higher with the goals that the
governor as says, projected many people are surprised by
that. You know, they think a California and, you know, at
any Illinois is a strong leader and just about everything
in policy and clean and clean energy. And that percentage
is much
Byron Illinois. Then it isn't even it. Even is in
California. More to do, you know, it sounds like, wow.
We're almost done. But, you know, it can be deceiving 10%.
You know, that's what that's what do clear, right? So where
we got strong nuclear performance in the state, let's just
get subject to some validation, of course, and thank you.
Say, I just wanted to get that reminder to
End of the road.
The role that, play.
The role that comment place in the energy versus the energy
production peace, as we get into questions. I'm so thank
you for that. I'm opening up to too many questions, will
start with Alderman Lopez.
I hope you got some more line, one-liners
You will.
You'll be shocked to know that I don't have any problems
getting. Thank you chairman and I do know that time is of
the essence. I'm going to do this really quickly first off,
it's great to see you not jumping in the lake at the
moment. But I had a question for I believe it was Michelle
if I make and I am new to this committee also, I've been
trying to educate myself in all things environmental and
energy related. So I had the pleasure of doing some light
reading on electrification, insights from one of your
counterparts at miso energy, as well as from the North
American electronic, reliability Corporation, nurko, about
long-term assets and liabilities assessments and things of
that nature. And one of the things that I wanted to talk
about, it's actually quite fortuitous considering our
previous conversation about environmental justice is that
we are seeing a push right now in the city of Chicago to
completely pull away from
natural gas, is part of the
Natural gas as part of the decarbonization effort, which
means as we seen another municipalities and States
basically turning off stoves and everything. All things gas
which,
Which I assume means we're turning on all things electric.
And many of these reports raised questions about the
current Grid's ability to deal with the loads involved with
the complete electrification of Art.
Set.
Cities states and municipalities. I would actually like to
know is ComEd ready right now. If we were to do a full on
Switch with the grid as it is right now to handle 100%
electric. Electrification opportunity on the switch line.
Got stuck in OneNote.
We what I talked about the red plan that we submitted as
part of the procedure and they're great plan, what we put
forth is the Investments that we will need to make so that
we're ready as our communities, become more and more
electrified, that's electric vehicles at switching to
electric heat. That's going to happen over time. And we
have acknowledged and have assessed the types of
investments will need to make 22 in Crete.
Capacity.
Capacity of a grid increase reliability, as before we going
to become more and more reliant on the grill. So those
proposals are is what we submitted. Those investment plan
in order for us to be ready to in as part of our grade
plant will wait. We're going through the regulatory process
now for so not to try and dominate the last 10 minutes of
this but I get off. Thank you. But I guess my my question
is, do you know a lot of what we're seeing being put
forward as in a very aggressive timeline right? Like one or
two years or sing or dance is that are saying that this is
going to be in and I'm sure as I know government I know the
state and regulation they're not going to have all of your
approvals and Investments done in.
What?
What do you?
48 months.
Azle.
As a point of clarification and just for the public and
other members, I think on the building decarbonization
pushes point of clarification. I think one that time frame
of looking like a couple of years, those are some of the
proposals on the table which are also being reconfigured
are looking at new construction. So it's not looking at
switching everything to Electric in 2 years but starting at
transition of everything new focusing on electric. So just
for clarification, it wouldn't be a switch and I think
that's some of the things that they have to factor into
their planning.
Notwithstanding that, you know, I know that people say we
start out small, but I also know city council likes to blow
it out big. Sometimes I think I would just like to see us
as we talk in the future, you're more about whether or not
you guys are being included in those conversations. Cuz
we've seen where often times, you know, the best intentions
lead us down a road that often forgets half the people who
are part of the conversation. Apparently. I'm so I just
want to make sure that we were included and chairman if we
may also have a copy of all of their opening statements for
members as well. I'll but thank you all for being here. We
did send the opening statements and bios. Yes, and just
too, I'm Quizlet we were included. There was a, a
decarbonization working group that was holding meetings. I
think, really the last couple years and we've been part of
it. Just to kind of highlight that, you know, capacity is
is very local until to Michelle's point. It takes a d.
I'll plan.
I'll plan understand, you know how it's going to come into
the system and how to be prepared for it but we weren't
included.
Thank.
Thank you. Yes. I have some questions are probably from
Michelle Basin, the reliability data that that you
presented. If you, if you, I hope you have that in front of
you. If not, I can try to bring one of these over and I
just want to make sure that it's clarifying, some of the
numbers on there. So based on, I hope I pronounce this
right, the safe. I would indicate that in 2022.
31% of your customers had a power outage. Is that right?
Is.
Is it my pronouncing to the acronym s? A i f i c system
average frequency and Dax. It's an index number it. What is
saying? No, it's not 31%. It says one if you look at every
single customer we serve the .31 means. It is what it is
31%.
Or.
All of the total customers. Yes. But if you look at every
single sub, customers also imply, it is saying once every
three years of customer was has, seen our knowledge and
safety is the frequency of outage. Katie is the duration
went. When they're out there to there, probably 10 or 15.
Other reliability metrics, put the two lead dogs are
it's a
It's a fee, Katie safety of one. That means a customer had
all customers on average. Have one interruption in the year
if the safety is one. And so, that's where the city safety
was. I take point 3.31 1.31% of customers had at that an
outage, although I guess some people had to. And then some
people have zero, I guess is Ambridge timer that out.
Except the Katy tonight, it would be 92 minutes, long. Is
that, is that right?
If we.
Between.
if we had,
9290 Clues storm number and know what the definition of
Bob. That it seems to indicate that without storms storms
is kind of defined as extreme weather events. Not just
rainfall. Is that right? Yeah. So if there's a pretty big
difference between the overall in the without storms number
What?
What would the data look like if we experienced the summer,
like, 1995, which is the worst one. I can remember where we
had extreme amounts of heat. What would you know, what
would the, how would the how reliable and how reliable with
the grid be under a situation like 1995 today? Because of
the threat, we would expect it to be better. An example of
that, as I noted in my talk was the last really big event
Summer Event. We had was at the ratio in 2020, and when we
looked at the outages, we had over 800,000 some customers
out of service as a result of that. The ratio,
When we?
When we analyze those outages. And we at, we looked at
where we made investments in the grid where there was
automation strengthening poles had we not made those
Investments. We estimate that we would have had almost
double the number of customers experience and allergies as
a result of that storm, those are the analysis that we do
after every storm to look at. What's the impact of the
Investments we've made and we, and we can see that it's had
positive impact. We are mitigating risk and reducing the
number of outages at customer. See, when did weather events
happen?
So, the D 800,000 is after you said the number of customers
that were out of his customers interrupted yet across the
system and the city. It was about 140,000 cuz I was going
to ask that. You only have one point three million
customers. So would you be able to save me and Katie you
have? If we had an extreme like what were those numbers in
2020? That's fair or fair. Question, I don't have the 20.
20 numbers in front of me.
Last year was our best ever in and we're best performance
ever in the city. If we've continued to improve performance
year-over-year and that sort of accumulation of the, the
investment that we've been making we keep going after,
what's next, what's next? What are the worst performing
parts or components and how do we improve through
technology noting? This is the summer reliability. Hearing
how reliable would the grade be if we had extreme summer
temperatures and in either a safety in Katy numbers or
however you want to do, you say it's gotten better but like
what and what are we talkin about? Things we do for summer
and not only that the making sure that we're doing the
correct, the maintenance on the system on the parts that
are sick.
to our
To our inspections were saying we need maintenance, but we
do what we call Summer critical work. So our engineer step
back and look at the the loading on every feeder on our
system. And they forecast the weather for the next year and
they forecast the loading on those feeders where we've
identified feeders that based on what the past loading was
last summer. And then the forecasted weather for the next
year as well as load increases that were forecasting in the
theaters where they see, there's a potential forecasted
overload or loading over our standard. They will issue
worked to improve the capacity of that feeder so that it
will be able to handle the increased load in the heat. So
this is work that we do every summer. Every, every year
that start of our summer reading, is it summer critical?
Cyst.
System component improvements in capacity increases that we
do. We expect it to be reliable on this summer. Even if
it's a very hot summer. Last year was the best type of
number days, over 90 degrees above the averages, the last
summer. Now, you know, we've been around this business a
long time. So we always hesitate you noticed because stuff
happens, right? And stuff can happen on a very complex grid
service.
Global City. All right, but we expect it to be reliable in
high heat and West. If some of these things happen that we
don't want to happen, we have extensive emergency
procedures and portable equipment and storm teams,
emergency dreams site management, spare Transformers
dispersed throughout the transform, the system to mitigate
the emergency and get people back up as soon as possible,
something could always happen, but we expect the sister,
the reliable, even in the high heat, we plan our system for
1 and 10-year, weather 90/10. We call it to the worst. We
are in 10 years, summer, summer low, we plan for that. Not
average weather, you plan for 91 and 10-year weather hot
weather for for the AR system, if they let you finish, I
want to know. And just thank you and Michelle so I guess
Sissy.
As soon as we're done with this line of questioning, please
don't feel like you have to stay on ceremony. I appreciate
you guys this time and also want to maybe say if it's a
through the share request, maybe we can get those prior
safety and Katie your numbers. If you'd like that I'll read
considering this is about summer reliability and I am asked
if we had extreme weather, how reliable with the grid would
be and I appreciate that. And we have some some data here
indicates what it looks like. Weather has a pretty extreme
effect on
Read what you?
Read, which is understandable. So if we have a
Hot summer a reliable. Will the grid be? That's really my
question is storms, right? The Storm. Still try that number
out, but then it's about how fast can we get this? The
customers back in the storm? When you talk about high heat,
you know, just say he waves for high-heat, you know, our
goal is, we Repeat Performance. So we should be able to
repeat the performance of last summer, which is our best
ever repeating best ever performances, which we've been
stringing together for well, over ten years. Now can become
even more challenging, you're trying to keep beating your
your previous year. Our goal is to be the previous year,
that's always going to be. There could be some volatility
in that and that's with high heat. Now, the storms will
have that volatility and if we get a really bad storm that
hit the city of Chicago, we are going to see an impact in
in the numbers. And I don't mean to make this
cross-examination. I was a prosecutor in a prior things. So
that's a natural thing. But it was confirmed to me that
storms in this.
What is includes extreme heat as extreme weather. So I
guess my question would be helpful through the chair is if
we do have one of these 10th percentile and I get one and
10, what would be the the safety and Katie numbers that we
can't predict the safety? That's why what we do is we
prepare and we do the work that in the system to prepare
for it. So weak
Admittedly.
Unmitigated minimize.
And mitigate and minimize failures as a result of the heat.
So they summer critical work, I talked about is about
getting a system ready for heat and high low making sure it
can handle it. So the work that we do is to make sure we're
prepared the drills that Rerun because we can, we can avoid
a big storm coming in the drills. Everyone is about getting
that back in service as quickly as possible. And it's about
not just avoiding the outage but restoring it as quickly as
possible in those unforeseen events where we feel we're
prepared based on all the work that we've done in the
system as well as all the drills and the preparation that
we made. One of the things that could be helpful for some
data through the chair. Cuz I, I understand with the
alderman tasking and I'm, I'm hearing the, the disconnect
and they're saying, they're saying yes, as much as they
can. But I think what would be helpful for the data,
Is we?
Is weed.
Is we've got these numbers in some of the responses to the
questions we sent. There are some kind of improvements over
the previous year's may be what would be helpful if through
the chair you guys could get us. Hey, look, we're looking
at maybe the last 45 years, but you guys could have talked
about in your answers with temperatures or information like
how many days were high because that is what we're looking
at is if we have a very hot summer.
Stop.
I'll prepare to be going to be what they're saying, is there
going to be as prepared as they can be? But we'll see in
the data is here at the increasingly hot summers and their
performance it. If it has their performance improved
year-over-year and I think it's showing that, but I think
the best we're going to get us a prediction, but if there's
another bit of data that you can ask, please ask before, at
least killing, Michelle, leave. And then we can keep asking
what the other side has about reliability, specifically.
But yes, right. I mean, I was that made me nervous when he
said in 2020 800,000 customers that you only have one point
three million had a outage. I thought that was my
understanding Katie's important as well as the safety but
that was and ended. The ratio we had dropped the system.
This was an extreme weather event with hurricane type winds
that we experienced Rafa sis. I was giving that as an
example of
The types of.
the types of an extreme situation that we had recently and
how the Investments that we've made as I thought, how we
were prepared for it, actually mitigated, the number of
customers that would have been out otherwise and maybe a
point of clarification to system-wide. How many customers
do you have?
Four point.
4.4.0 / 4.2 million, Chicago customers 40,000, Chicago,
customers thousand customers across an outage during that
particular event where you at a lot of those were in the
48th and 50th Ward as we get it for him, would be
surprising if that's less than any of the data on here, but
maybe I'm raps. There's a disconnect for one of the
questions. I have two specific to the 34th. Ward is and I
didn't think about this is the data that you have by War
here. Is that based on thank you very much. Thank you to
gylan. Michelle will continue and we're going to keep Terry
here for a marathon first. Last time, last year
Appreciate.
Appreciate it.
Fantastica Alderman, Lawson and then Alderman Ramirez.
Making sure hadn't. I had a couple quick ones but ten years
ago, 12 years ago. We had a whole series of brown outs in
the Lakeview Community, which I don't know how Brown are
fixing to the terms of who talked about today. But
basically, it's a load related shutdown of the grid which
disproportionately it would impact the business. It's
always on a Saturday, when
we must be outside because it's
We must be outside because it's not.
We must be outside because it's nice. We haven't had one in
my finger in a long time. Is that a brown out in one of
these other terms were disgusting? Or do you have any sense
of how many fewer brownouts were having in the city than we
were before you started this Market upgrades?
Well, the term brownout can vary. I think what you might be
referring to, if it's a heavy load, and maybe the voltage
goes down, the voltage goes low because it said it better
than an equipment failure. And the other Transformers,
which feed the load are straining to feed their glow when
other equipment out. And then the voltage guys, lower and
lower and some of the motor struggle to keep up with that.
And the Investments that we make are here to address that
as well, to prevent that and ensure areas are not
overloaded. We've been working for decades on relieving
loading, especially the city cuz there's high pockets of
load. And we've been trying to relieve that they're hot in
small areas and I pocket to load and we've been working
over the years to run more feeders in the areas to
diversify to load and get some more.
pass the
Pasadena in different areas of the city based on her
engineering analysis, which affects will improve any kind
of likelihood of a brown out. And then the second part of
that is not only for interruptions but in general we talked
a lot about residential assistance for users. What is on
the small business side? For those that had a business
interruption or that are will talk to a business in, its
top ten ComEd people's, then they stopped paying the state
to pay, then before you know if they are everybody 20 G,
how do you work with small businesses on their options and
general issues or small businesses? A lot of times we will
work directly through associations in a we've done grants
to those associations to then distribute to help, then we
did it during the pandemic and endemic usually through the
nonprofit organization and, and just do Grant dollars that
we provide. But because most of the programs that are
facilitated
The residential customers. We also implemented payment plan
to help the the the business customers as well. Usually a
small, the middle that we've had a lot of success working
through the local Chambers. And in business associations,
it's been awhile but a problem where everyone was way over
their head in bills. Are you? You must not let people get
that far anymore.
The longer you let a problem, it'll continue the hard, it is
to get him out of it. And so whether it's residential
customers or small business customers, you know, trying to
make sure that we work with them and get to them as early
as possible is really the solution and then you figure out
ways to help.
Call Roman Ramirez.
Older woman Ramirez.
Okay, great. I had a question in regards to the customer
assistance program, how do you guys decide how much money
you guys are funding through the G? A R & S, A R P and then
just curious how that is funded in General. Tso The Lion's
Share of the customer assistance funding that we possess
facilitate comes from either LIHEAP program or pit programs
by fire. That's going to be the largest amount of funding
and that's where we put a lot of our Focus. These other
programs that you that we have are a much more smaller in
scale. You probably will see about a million and a half
dollars that will invest, you know, from other resources.
But the reason we focus on that is because those dollars
are collected and they need to go directly to people that
we've had years in the past where the distribution didn't
occur. And it's interesting because sometimes it doesn't
occur because even though these
Cancel.
Cancel been out there long time. People still other. Don't
do the Outreach, they're not aware. They don't know if it
applies to them, which is why we spent a lot of time going
into the neighborhoods and into the into the communities to
try to you know do some of the Outreach. You heard someone
here earlier talking about a community program that we did
to be in the neighborhood because people also go where they
trust to get support to sew line. Sure of it is LIHEAP in
and pee and then the other programs that, that I talked
about our either subscription fees that we're paying for
give away, or I'm sorry. And it's been about a million and
a half this distribute even so far this year in the first 6
months and about a million for last year.
So,
Do it.
So it is it funded by shareholders or people who pay like
ratepayers are giveaways, is through shareholder dollars.
We had, I don't know if you're referring to care, but care
was a program that was in place for you to both utilities
Amarin and and comment that was phased out at the end of 21
/ statutes, and it was part of the negotiations of the
framework that was in place at the time. It's not part of
Asia. Thank you. I appreciate it.
Alderman said she Lopez and son.
You're ready for this tough questions and I hope you can
speak baby. Well I was going to say only if I get to hold
them then I'll answer the question. I don't care. Just have
a few questions. What is the total amount of investment
that, is is putting to move towards renewable energies and
clean Energy's. What is the total amount that you know,
that that you have maybe in these last few years. So, when
you talk about investment in renewable, without shared is a
little bit with the chair was pointing out. So our role
with respect to advancing renewable, energy falls into two
places. One is doing the interconnection and making sure it
gets connected to the great, which was what Terry was
speaking about earlier. And then the other thing that we do
is just try to make sure we educate customers about the
options, and we put together.
something, we
Something we call the solar tool kit and and people can go
on to our website and learn about is solar for me, what are
the options? What do I go through for the steps? But the
solar developers which do not report to us, but they work
with us to get their connection, that that's really who's
in.
Sorry.
Charge of actually implementing projects and then the
policies that are in place today is really, you know,
driving and incentivizing to grow more solar, more
Renewables in the communities, and I would add that there
are some significant Investments across the system to
prepare for Renewables. I don't, I can't have that exact
number. When you look at, what does the system need to
integrate High penetration of Renewables. It's, it's a lot
and so Investments, like high-speed communication systems
are, are we having a major effort in that to get more
high-speed control systems and communication systems in
order to have a faster system improve clearing of faults
and to keep Renewables online?
Renewable.
Renewables.
Renewables don't like false, they trip offline. So we need
more advanced control systems to keep Renewables up and
we're investing in the end that on the system and we're a
leader in that voltage. Optimization is another large
tactical investment across the system for advanced controls
to better control voltage on the system. As we have more
intermittent seat, come on, a system like wind and solar.
So it go fart. There's also systems called Durham's, what
germs do is when renewal
Restaurants.
Restaurants estimate, can overload equipment going the other
way. And what germs do is is they curtail real Renewables
so that equipment's not overloaded and it reduces the cost
to developers to interconnect cuz they they would have to
front the cost of any system prop system needs if they
interconnect. So those are are examples of of a significant
investment and we have over 20, grants with the Department
of energy that is working through sensors, monitoring
integration of wind and solar were probably the leading
utility and Partnerships with the DOI and what we're doing.
So those control system that they're significant and and
our Engineers are working tirelessly to get this system
rated ARS examples of investment that will facilitate the
interconnection of Renewables.
Thank.
Thank you. So maybe someday we can maybe get the specifics
of the amounts of these bro G. My next question is in terms
of profitability, you know, maybe in the stakeholders. What
what was reported? Maybe to the yearly earnings report as a
profit of command made these last year.
and you can, I
And you can ask my dad to the chair if you don't have a
bill estimate, the the net profit 2422 annual net income
was, I believe in the 900 million range.
Thank.
Thank you. And I think that the comments are we heard
earlier around the concerns around docks rate hikes of 1.3
billion dollars of thing is something that is putting a lot
of, a lot of pressure, especially in low-income homeowners
low-income tenants low income, residence in the city. That
is what I think. I think we're getting from some options to
the lady about the sustainability of these operation when
profit in at Express in a, with the public infrastructure.
I think that is something that we need to consider. So, in
terms of the, in terms of the sustainability of these with
climate change channel that I think the numbers for the
Investments around renewable energy sources important just
as much as
any any of
Any, any other reports are you? You have available
important, and I think the renegotiation of command, and
the contract that do seem that the tax rates are as
profitability, and sustainability must be taken into
consideration. I'm really concerned about the bottom line.
You know, when there's not with the challenges that we have
a head, I do think that the profit participation versus
they probably good. It is a serious consideration that a
committee mistake as we coming to an error. A negotiation
agreement. I seen the cost for an option and public option.
I misspell option must be taken. Seriously. Just given the
challenges that we have a cat. Yeah, I think if I, you
know, kind of focus on the the sustainability, the
affordability and reliability aspects, those are exactly
the things that we focus on as well as I shared earlier,
when you look at where our rates are compared to other
states of our size and and and also you
I prefer.
Perform.
A performance or performance is usually exceeding those
other locations. And then we are also performing at levels
permit afforded, portability perspective, that's much less
than that. So, we do take that as very seriously as Terry.
Just mention from a sustainability perspective, our plan
incorporates the Investments as needed to also Advanced
sustainability efforts because it's a long-term view on
that and we try to balance all of them. And, and, and then
we
also, a
also is I mention
Also, as I mentioned, you know, try to make sure that
programs are available people know what's available to
them. So all those things are our priority, all those
things are things that were focused on and in those are
also the same things and same questions that I regulator
the state regulator looks at when they set the race.
And it.
And in these Investments are all in our multi-year filing
and you know public do what. We're doing to get the bread
ready for the program. I would only add Melissa and your
team is our Energy Efficiency program is just up
significantly increased over the last 10 years and the
latest shift in Energy Efficiency is toward low income
benefits for energy-efficient Seasons to the statutory
requirement. But where Orwell exceeding that with north of
a hundred million dollars of geared 2 Energy Efficiency in
low-income neighborhoods is a big. Is it is a shift at
work. Continuing aggressively make an R&R, Energy
Efficiency programs,
I think you seen no further questions, there's one more
request. I'd like to make through the chair so you don't
have to have an answer now cuz I'm I'm hoping, maybe I'm as
we continue to discussions and especially as we prepare for
meeting with you guys again later this year, I'd like for
us to have him myself and for us to have a better
understanding as well of what role ComEd plays in.
The.
The price.
The process of us getting access to more renewable project.
So you've talked about the Investments that you make in
order to improve. And I I want to lift up if you guys want
to send some more information about that fiber that you're
laying. And I know you there were some answers that you
gave us but just for more information for our edification.
If there's anything you want to share, that would be
helpful that I'm thinking about, maybe if I'm a renewable
company, I'm working on a renewable project. I know we do
hear some things about how project get stuck and a pipeline
because they can't move forward, right? And I'm so would
love to better understand, maybe if there's a workflow or
kind of graphic about kind of comments role in that, with
our larger kind of Regulation process and what's happening
with energy in our area, we definitely can prepare that
thank you.
Thank you for.
Thank you for that. I want to thank our guests from ComEd
for all the information you prepared in advance and more
conversations to come. I want to thank our committee
members for your fantastic questions. And this concludes
the items before the committee today. So I will send out
two committee members, any of the answers that we receive
for those, through the share request. And with there, being
no further business before the committee may have a motion
to adjourn.
all the
I'll remember. Hopping word Faso moves hearing no
objections. So ordered
commit.
Committee on Environmental Protection, energy is now
adjourned. Thank you.