(The Center Square) – Electricity bills for Illinoisans are expected to shoot up this summer as some lawmakers are saying the state is headed for an energy cost crisis.
Rates for electricity are usually higher during the summer months. This year, they will be even higher due to reduced capacity for power generation. Midcontinent Independent System Operator, downstate Illinois’ power grid, saw more than a 20-fold year-over-year price jump at its capacity auction in April.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, labeling the auction that set the prices as “flawed” and stated that the resulting reserve power prices will “drastically” increase consumer bills.
Ameren Illinois customers can expect about a 20% increase in their monthly bill, which is about $45 per month. Commonwealth Edison customers will pay more as well.
Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz is calling for ComEd and Ameren to offer consumer-friendly payment plans that give customers a longer time to pay off their debt.
“This will be a difficult summer for far too many customers, and we urge the companies to do everything possible to work with people so they stay safe, cool and connected this summer,” said Moskowitz.
Before the end of the spring legislative session, House Republicans introduced several measures to roll back provisions of the Climate and Equitable Job’s Act, but none of them made it to the House floor for debate.
One provision regarding greenhouse gases would have extended deadlines by five years for reduced or zero carbon dioxide equivalent and co-pollutant emissions by certain electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as a fuel.
“The problem is we haven’t had any planning since 1997,” said state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville. “This administration has been in for six, seven years and there has been no planning, just the political talking points that they want to say to their environmental people, but at the end of the day everyone wants to be able to flip that light switch and have the lights turn on.”
Davidsmeyer said he warned of rising prices and reduced supply when CEJA was passed nearly four years ago.
CUB has tips to help Illinois consumers get through what is sure to be an expensive summer at CUBHelpCenter.com.
