The 2011 legislation authorizing investments to upgrade Illinois’ electric infrastructure to a smart grid included a fund for consumer education with a model unlike any other. Funded by the two regulated utilities in Illinois (Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois), The Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF) invests in statewide nonprofit organizations that inform and engage the public to further energy literacy.
The foundation operates independently of the utilities as a third-party education arm, with the mission of empowering consumers to understand and adopt smart grid technologies and related programs; to create positive changes in consumer behavior related to patterns of energy use; and to transform cultural norms regarding the relationship between the consumer, the utility and energy consumption.
To date, ISEIF grantees have held over 4,000 statewide events, have reached over 1.2 million people through outreach and have educated over 22,000 school children and parents through an interactive Smart Grid for Schools curriculum.
