The five-member IBM Smarter Cities Challenge team that has spent the past three weeks in Knoxville will present their findings and recommendations to Mayor Madeline Rogero and other City officials at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 17 in the Main Assembly Room in the City County Building.

The IBM experts from around the world have met with dozens of local stakeholders during their stay. They will make specific recommendations for ways the City can lead efforts to reduce residential emergency utility bills through weatherization and energy efficiency. The recommendations will include a call for a community-wide education effort. The team will send a final report in 30 days.

Last November, IBM announced that Knoxville had been selected for a Smarter Cities Challenge grant. Launched in 2011, the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city, $50-million competitive grant program. The program, which is IBM's single-largest philanthropic initiative, assigns a team of six top IBM experts to each winning city to study a key issue identified by the city's leadership. The grant provides consulting services valued at $400,000.

Knoxville's application asked for advice on the most effective way to connect weatherization and energy education services to residents who receive emergency utility bill assistance. This will help reduce the demand each year for emergency assistance with utility bills for low-income ratepayers, particularly those in older, inefficient buildings.


The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Team with Mayor Rogero. Left to Right: Jeni Vancura, Tina Wilson, Avalyn Pace, Mayor Madeline Rogero, Rudi Loepp, Debbie Bonner Perkins, and Dr. Anika Schumann

For more information about the City's application and to see a video of Mayor Rogero at the IBM Smarter Cities Summit last November, see www.knoxvilletn.gov/smartercities.