ComEd’s Journey to Community Empowerment with Powering Lives Resource Fairs
April 11, 2024
ComEd is committed to empowering individuals and families by providing vital support services and engaging with communities. This year, ComEd took part in the Community Health, Education, Jobs & Trades Resource Fair, organized by the Village of University Park, the Will County Department of Health, Crete-Monee School District 201U in collaboration with various community organizations. This event marks the launch of ComEd’s involvement in community resource fairs for 2024– with a second fair coming up in July – and additional events to follow as the company strives to reach customers from every corner of the service territory spanning northern Illinois.
Expanding on the success of last year’s award-winning Powering Lives Resource Fairs, ComEd will join community and business organizations to connect thousands of income eligible customers with bill assistance, energy management programs, health screenings, job training opportunities, and other support options. Recognized by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC), ComEd was one of only six electric utilities in the U.S. and Canada to receive a 2024 Best Practices Award!
In 2023, ComEd collaborated with dozens of local community-based organizations to host four Powering Lives Resource Fairs, directly bringing a wide range of support services to communities in need. These fairs facilitated connections for over 3,000 customers, including more than 1,000 customers who received bill assistance and energy management programs as a result of the 2023 events.
Linda Rhodes, Senior Manager of Customer Assistance & Advocacy at ComEd, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering communities and ensuring equitable access to resources. “Our commitment extends beyond providing utility services; it’s about working with local communities to identify the services that will have the most positive impact on that community,” said Linda. “Together, we can create a brighter and more sustainable future for our customers.”
ComEd Continues to Illuminate Pathways for Customers
ComEd is poised to build on the success of previous years and will reach more customers in need by continuing to work with local organizations to host additional resource fairs. These events will provide much-needed assistance to income-eligible families and individuals, offering bill assistance options and energy management programs tailored to specific community needs.
ComEd is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming Belmont-Cragin’s, Hope Fest, on July 27, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the New Life Community Church. This event represents another significant milestone in ComEd’s dedication to providing essential support services to individuals and families.
Community resource fairs like these play a crucial role in connecting residents with vital resources and services. “Through this work, we are bringing together an array of vital services directly to the community, to the people who will benefit from them, bringing bill assistance options, workforce development and training programs, and simply tools to manage future energy bills,” added Linda. ComEd looks forward to seeing its customers at the Belmont-Cragin Hope Fest and encourages its customers and communities to connect with ComEd on Facebook, and X for additional resource fairs announced for 2024.
