Speaker: Calvin Butler, CEO, Exelon
About the Global Quantum Forum
2026 GQF26 explored society’s grand challenges — the defining opportunities and toughest problems of our time — and the ways quantum may help address them across interconnected economic, scientific, and social systems, from pharma, finance, energy, climate, and beyond.
What Calvin Butler said
Written from the verified transcript and checked against it. Every figure links to the moment it was said.
Calvin Butler, CEO of Exelon, spoke at the Global Quantum Forum about the need for an interactive energy grid to support technological innovation. He argued that the grid must evolve from passive infrastructure to a system that communicates, learns, and responds, enabling customers to be active participants. He highlighted Exelon's initiatives, including demand response during a recent Illinois heat wave and the Climate Change Investment Initiative (2C2I), which funds startups like Public Grid. Butler emphasized workforce training with AI, and reported ComEd's reliability achievements: ranked number one, with 15 significant storms, 37 tornadoes, 1.3 million customers affected, 97% restored within 48 hours, 2.1 million customer interruptions avoided, and $375 million in outage-related costs saved. He stressed affordability, serving diverse communities, and the need for collaboration across utilities, tech companies, regulators, and customers to build this future.
Key takeaways
ComEd avoided 2.1 million customer interruptions and saved $375 million in outage costs year-to-date.
ComEd restored 97% of customers within 48 hours after 15 significant storms with 37 tornadoes.
Exelon's 2C2I initiative funds startups like Public Grid to automate customer savings.
Please welcome to the stage Chicago office managing partner at Ernst & Young, presenting sponsor of the Global Quantum Forum, Kevin Cole. Man, that was fast. Got to be on your toes. And this room was full of energy at 9:00 this morning. How we doing? We are we still there? All right. Well, we're going to finish the day really strong. I know this morning we spent a lot of time talking about the excellent opportunity we have with quantum and the technology and what it represents. The other theme that you're going to hear pretty consistently throughout the forum is that solving grand challenges requires more than breakthrough technologies. It requires the foundational systems that make innovation possible in the first place. Few things are more important than energy. As we think about the future of advanced manufacturing, AI, quantum, life sciences, and economic growth more broadly, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. Competitiveness will belong to the regions that can align their innovation strategy and their desire for growth with a comprehensive energy strategy. Period. That's one of the reasons Illinois is so well positioned. We are home to world-class, we heard this morning as well. We are home to world-class research institutions, a strong industrial base, exceptional talent, and a long history of leadership in energy generation, transmission, and grid operations. Today, we have an opportunity to build on those strengths and demonstrate how innovation, economic development, and energy planning can work together to create long-term prosperity. Few leaders understand that intersection better than Calvin Butler. As president and chief executive officer of Exelon, he leads one of the nation's largest utility companies, serving more than 10 million customers through six local energy companies, including ComEd here in Illinois. He also serves as chair of the Edison Electric Institute and is widely recognized as one of the most respected voices shaping the future of energy infrastructure, reliability, and economic growth. What I particularly appreciate about Calvin's leadership is his understanding that energy is not simply an industry issue. It's a growth issue, a competitiveness issue, and ultimately a quality of life issue. The decisions we make today about infrastructure investment, reliability, and capacity will help determine where businesses locate, where innovation will flourish, and how ultimately communities will prosper for decades to come. We are very fortunate to have him with us today. Please join me in welcoming the president and chief executive officer of Exelon, Calvin Butler.
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