LM May 2026

IASA recently sat down with IEC Director Andrew Bittner to discuss why Illinois energy costs are rising fast — and what districts can do about it. Here are the highlights. Illinois energy costs are rising fast. Capacity charges in Illinois doubled or tripled last year, driven largely by a surge in data center development across the state. Even districts doing everything right could see energy costs rise 20-30% this summer. Bittner urged superintendents to get ahead of it now and be proactively communicating with their boards before the bills arrive. The vendor landscape is overwhelming — and risky. Districts are being flooded with pitches from community solar companies, efficiency vendors, and energy brokers — and not all of them are legitimate. Bittner noted that some groups have already cloned the IEC website and sent fake emails to school districts. Knowing who to trust has never been more important. The IEC has expanded its scope. The program originally focused on supply contracts. But with supply now representing only 20-30% of a district’s total energy bill, the IEC has expanded to provide holistic support across demand charges, efficiency programs, solar development, battery incentives, community solar, and state grants specifically available to school districts. It’s free and it’s not a product pitch. Bittner described the program as a “free primary care doctor” for school districts — no cost, no single vendor agenda, and no new work added to a superintendent or business manager’s plate. The Vienna Schools story. Vienna Schools Superintendent Dr. Josh Stafford came to IEC overwhelmed by vendors — several of whom had already gone out of business. After one discovery meeting, IEC built a coordinated plan, negotiated contract terms built around how school districts do business, and identified over $112,000 in savings. Podcast: Taking Control of Your Energy Costs

To listen to the full interview on the IASA Podcast, CLICK HERE.

LM May 2026