Skip to main content

Dr. Guillermo Pereira

Technical Expert Testimony

Dr. Guillermo Pereira

Dr. Guillermo Pereira, Senior Energy Analyst at Union of Concerned Scientists, submitted expert testimony in a case before the Illinois Commerce Commission determining if ComEd’s Multi-Year Integrated Grid Plan is reasonable and if it complies with the Public Utilities Act.

Dr. Pereira provided recommendations to improve ComEd’s proposed grid plan in order to meet requirements set forth by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The act states that utilities must design their grid plans to bring at least 40% of the benefits of grid modernization and clean energy investments to Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIEC) in ComEd’s service territory.

Dr. Pereria acknowledged the efforts and equity concerns ComEd’s plan addressed. However, he found the plan lacked a detailed framework to explain, track, and report on how these proposed benefits would reach households in Equity Investment Eligible Communities. He recommended ComEd develop a plan that laid out (1) the specific benefits being created, (2) the magnitude of those benefits, and (3) who is receiving those benefits. As it stood, he found the proposed plan lacked transparency and accountability for meeting the 40% target.

Summary

ComEd must create a detailed framework to track and report on how proposed benefits would reach households, to comply with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

Are you interested in testifying in a utility rate case?
Learn More
Become a certified energy justice intervenor.
Join the Movement

More Testimonies

Microphone in a court room
Community Expert Testimony

Wasiu Adesope

Community Expert Wasiu Adesope testified that utilities should be incentivized to create a culture of efficiency to benefit all customers, and to invest not just for the sake of profitability.
Microphone in a court room
Technical Expert Testimony

Andrew Barbeau

Technical expert Andrew Barbeau testified that ComEd’s proposal to use system-wide metrics to measure reliability disadvantages the residents of more vulnerable frontline communities. Instead, the needs of these communities must be front and center in the utility’s plans.
Microphone in a court room
Community Expert Testimony

Gregory Norris

Community expert Gregory Norris, founder of an environmental justice organization, testified that lack of affordable energy has an outsized impact on Black and brown neighborhoods. Solutions will only be implemented justly if there is intention and accountability. ComEd can use tenets of energy justice to guide grid planning.
Microphone in a court room
Community Expert Testimony

Kelly McCleary

Community expert Kelly McCleary testified that higher rates can lead to a cascade of problems. The higher rates get, the fewer customers will be able to afford to invest in clean energy, including energy efficiency, and save in the future. Utilities should invest in making the grid more ready for renewable energy, not just user rate hikes to garner higher profits for shareholders.
Microphone in a court room
Community Expert Testimony

Ryan O’Donnell

Community expert Ryan O'Donnell testified that communities should have energy sovereignty, meaning some degree of ownership over the means of energy production. Benefits of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) should be visible, making the system more fair and balanced environmentally and economically.
Microphone in a court room
Community Expert Testimony

Cheryl Watson

Community expert Cheryl Watson testified that utility policies contribute to and exacerbate cumulative burdens to disadvantaged communities and must be changed. Utilities need to be more holistic and community centered, planning with the community, not for them.
Microphone in a court room
Technical Expert Testimony

Justin Schott

Technical expert Justin Schott testified that Peoples Gas’ disconnection and late fee practices and qualifications for low-income discounts are placing undue energy burdens on BIPOC communities.
Microphone in a court room
Technical Expert Testimony

Chris Neme

Technical expert Chris Neme testified that transitioning single-family homes from gas furnaces to electricity is cost-effective for the average homeowner in Peoples Gas service territory.

Tags:

Related Posts

Dr. Jifunza Wright-Carter speaks at a protest
Media Article

Farmers Reject Nicor’s Pipe Dream

An article from In These Times discusses why Black farmers in Pembroke, IL want an energy upgrade to renewables, not fossil fuels.
Pipeline running through agricultural area
Media Article

Legitimizing Situated Knowledge in Rural Communities Through Storytelling Around Gas Pipelines and Environmental Risk

A scholarly article from the November 2021 issue of Technical Communication, demonstrates that rural landowners and community members’ place-based knowledge is expertise that should be considered by technical communication professionals.
Announcement

National Training Welcomes Participants from Coast to Coast

Community Voices in Energy national trainings are designed to prepare participants to address energy justice issues and drive change through energy regulatory cases that affect their communities. Over the course of about eight bi-weekly virtual trainings, our 2024 national training explained and demystified traditional legal intervention in public utility commission proceedings, and how individuals can bring about a more just and affordable energy system through policy advocacy, organizing, and education. Participants also gained insights from case studies such as amazing successes in Illinois. At the end of the program the participants completed an impressive range of projects, many of which involved energy justice insights that helped scale the impact of the work. Participants received Energy Justice Intervenor certification showing that they had learned about navigating and influencing the energy regulatory system.    
Media Article

Peoples Gas seeks record-high gas bill increase for customers

Environmental and community activists turned out in Chicago to protest against Peoples Gas' request for a $402 million rate hike for next year. "We don’t think consumers should be having to spend more money to rebuild fossil fuel pipelines," said activist Caroline Wooten. Dozens of activists showed up to Thursday's Illinois Commerce Commission meeting to make their final plea before the commission votes on November 16.
Environmental Defense Fund logo
Blacks in Green logo
Community Voices in Energy Logo White
About Us
Toolkit
Resources
News & Updates
FAQ
Get Involved
Contact
Privacy Notice
Terms of Use
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive quarterly news and updates.
Subscribe