How ComEd is Building the Workforce to Power the Grid of the Future

Recognizing the 2026 S&C Empowering People Award winner for leadership in workforce expansion, talent development, and community engagement.

The future of the grid won’t be built by technology alone.

It will be built by the people who design, operate, maintain, and strengthen it in real communities, under real conditions.

That’s why S&C Electric Company is proud to recognize ComEd with the 2026 S&C Empowering People Award, an honor that celebrates utilities investing in people through workforce expansion, talent development, and community engagement.

Why workforce readiness has become a grid priority

Across the energy sector, utilities are balancing unprecedented levels of change that include:

• rising customer expectations
• increasing electrification
• integration of distributed energy resources
• evolving reliability and resilience needs
• expanding digital tools and grid automation

One challenge that cuts across all these trends is having enough skilled people to do the work.

Our energy future demands a new generation of talent—professionals who are adaptable, safety-focused, technologically fluent, and ready to innovate as the grid evolves.

Meeting that demand requires more than traditional recruitment methods. It needs deliberate investment in people and new avenues into the industry.

ComEd’s Power Up Academy: expanding access to careers that matter

Power Up Academy, ComEd’s award-winning initiative, is an example of what it looks like to build a pipeline that is both future-ready and rooted in community.

Launched in 2023, Power Up Academy was developed through a collaboration between Chicago-area engineering firms and community organizations. The goal: to create an accessible pathway into technical careers supporting the grid, without the requirement of a college degree.

Power Up Academy’s employer coalition also features a variety of partners, including:

• ComEd
• Burns & McDonnell
• HBK Engineers
• KDM Engineering
• Milhouse
• Primera Engineers
• Sargent & Lundy
• V3 Companies

That approach matters.

Not only because it helps address the growing demand for skilled workers, but because it expands opportunity for people who have the talent and drive to succeed yet may not have access to a traditional four-year college path.

Power Up Academy is designed to build a diverse workforce pipeline while supporting the long-term needs of a modern, intelligent grid across Illinois and beyond.

Preparing adults for real roles in the industry

Power Up Academy is a 14-week program that prepares adult job seekers for entry-level roles such as:

• Designer
• Engineering tech
• Project coordinator
• Analyst

Participants receive technical skills training, exposure to foundational electrical concepts, and experience working through real-world scenarios.

Since its launch, more than 41 students have graduated from the program, each bringing new skills, fresh momentum, and increased capacity to the energy workforce.

A program built on opportunity—and impact

Power Up Academy isn’t just about filling roles. It’s about fostering long-term career growth.

“Power Up Academy is more than a training program; it’s a gateway to opportunity for many in our community,” said Laticia Holbert, Senior Manager, Workforce Development at ComEd. “By removing the four‑year degree barrier, this program opens doors to family‑sustaining careers and forges clear pathways for advancement in a fast‑growing field. Its success is driven by a strong coalition of workforce, education, and employer partners who mentor and support our participants. We are honored that Power Up Academy and its impact have been recognized with the S&C Empowering People Award.”

Recognition grounded in leadership

The S&C Empowering People Award was created to spotlight utilities that demonstrate leadership in empowering people through workforce expansion, talent development, and community engagement.

ComEd’s Power Up Academy reflects the kind of practical, people-first leadership the industry needs today.

“The grid’s future will be shaped by the people who design it, build it, operate it, and strengthen it for what comes next,” said Nicole Colen, Chief Human Resources Officer at S&C Electric Company. “ComEd is creating pathways to meaningful careers while building the skilled workforce the energy transition demands. Through Power Up Academy, ComEd is investing in people in a way that strengthens communities and accelerates progress toward a more resilient energy future.”

Supporting the next step: education and advancement

ComEd is also helping graduates maintain their career momentum beyond the program.

To promote career growth, ComEd has partnered with City Colleges of Chicago and Revolution Workshop to offer college credit to graduates of the Power Up Academy. ComEd also provides programs such as tuition reimbursement and scholarships to help graduates pursue their degrees.

Congratulations, ComEd

As the grid evolves, workforce development is becoming one of the most critical and strategic investments utilities can make. ComEd’s Power Up Academy shows how to create pathways that benefit both people and the energy systems we all rely on.

Congratulations to ComEd, its partners, and every graduate who has completed Power Up Academy. Your efforts matter, and your leadership is helping shape the workforce that will power the grid of the future.