Edison Electric Institute partners with Smart Cities Council

Edison Electric Institute (EEI) recently joined the Smart Cities Council as a Global Lead Partner, working with the Council on initiatives to advance smart cities.

The initiatives include educational events that highlight successful city and electric company projects, workshops at Smart Cities Week Silicon Valley in Santa Clara, California and support for electric companies to help cities and communities in their service territories win a Readiness Challenge grant from the Council.

EEI Chairman Pat Vincent-Collawn, chairman, president and CEO of PNM Resources, will deliver an opening keynote address tomorrow at the Council’s annual Smart Cities Week conference and exposition at the Washington Convention Center to kick off the partnership.

“Electric companies can help take smart cities to the next level,” Vincent-Collawn said. “The electric power industry supports communities’ efforts to advance smarter energy infrastructure, and, electrification and advanced technologies are providing many ways electric companies can collaborate with communities. We are pleased to join efforts with the Smart Cities Council to assist and support these initiatives that will better serve our customers and the communities we serve.”

Electric companies can recommend cities and communities in their service territories to receive one of the Council’s 2018 Readiness Challenge grants. The Council provides a free Readiness Workshop plus free products and services to five cities each year.

“For more than a century, electric companies have been partners for urban progress, building essential infrastructure to enable growth and prosperity,” Jesse Berst, chair of the Smart Cities Council, said. “As we now transition to smart, sustainable cities, their close involvement is more important than ever.”