Wilbur C. Milhouse III Addresses the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Diversity and Community Affairs

The Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Diversity and Community Affairs assists Illinois communities, local governments, and businesses in understanding energy/ telecommunications and procurement issues through outreach and awareness activities.

The Office’s functions include:

• Overseeing the ICC’s efforts to increase supplier diversity in Illinois utilities, including the analysis of utility spend and procurement with women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and small businesses under state law.
• Serving as a diversity resource to supplier diversity professionals, minority and woman owned business owners, and community partners.
• Developing and maintaining internal and external diversity and inclusion initiatives, including working to improve the ICC’s culture of diversity and inclusion.
• Leading efforts to partner with utilities, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders in consumer education and community outreach activities with the goal of making the work of the ICC more visible and accessible to all Illinois consumers and stakeholders.

Section 5-117 of the Public Utilities Act requires all gas, electric, and water companies with at least 100,000 customers under its authority, as well as suppliers of wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectricity, nuclear energy, and any other supplier of energy within Illinois, to submit an annual report by April 15, on all procurement goals and actual spending for female-owned, minority-owner, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the previous calendar year, and the utilities’ plan for implementing and realizing their goals for the following year.

Milhouse Chairman and CEO, Wilbur C. Milhouse III addressed the panel as part of the Annual Supplier Diversity Policy Session, offering his unique perspective regarding the challenges and opportunities of working closely with all the top utility companies.