* Press release…
Illinois’ approval of zero emission standards (ZES) is credit positive for Exelon Generation Company, LLC (ExGen, Baa2 stable), as the subsidies are critical for the survival of two of its nuclear facilities, Quad City and Clinton, according to Moody’s. ZES is a 10-year subsidy to be paid by utility customers in their monthly bills, and Moody’s expects that relative to shutting down its plants, ExGen’s pre-tax cash flow will improve by about $160 million per year.
Many nuclear plants operating in deregulated power markets generate minimal or negative cash flow, and many are located in rural areas and serve as primary sources of employment and tax base. Closing these plants risk harm to local economies as well as states’ desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
At the same time, Illinois’ ZES program is credit negative for Dynegy Inc (B2 stable) and NRG Energy, Inc. (Ba3 stable) because they own plants that burn coal or natural gas in the same market but are now at a competitive disadvantage without the subsidy.
Moody’s declaration of “credit positive” or “credit negative” does not connote a rating or outlook change. It is indicative of the impact of a distinct event or development as one of many credit factors affecting the issuer.
* Meanwhile…
The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved a 5 percent increase in the annual delivery rate for ComEd, expected to generate $127.5 million in additional revenue for the utility in 2017.
Most ComEd residential customers will see their bills go up by about $2 per month beginning in January, the company said Wednesday.
So, two bucks a month equals $127.5 million. The Exelon bill is supposed to raise twice that, but rate hikes for residential users are supposedly capped at 25 cents per month.
* The Sun-Times explanation…
In 2017, customers will see dips in their bills based on savings from the change in energy efficiency program spending, according to an analysis conducted by the Illinois Commerce Commission. After five years, the analysis shows, rates would go up by 8 cents per customer per month, based on that reduced spending level.
But a separate analysis by the Citizens Utility Board factors in the impact of energy efficiency. By 2022, when the commission’s report shows a small bump, customers will already see bill savings due to energy efficiency efforts, which should equate to a savings of about $2 per customer a month, according to CUB.
The Illinois Commerce Commission study was used in negotiations with Rauner’s administration. And the governor and his staff helped ensure a rate cap increase of 25 cents a month for residential customers of ComEd and Ameren for 13 years. It also limits increases on commercial customers to a 1.3 percent increase over last year’s rates.
ComEd will present annual numbers each year to the Illinois Commerce Commission, which may cause the costs to fluctuate, but the rate impact will be capped at 25 cents, per the agreement.
- GOPgal - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 9:44 am:
Has a single news outlet detailed the names of the lobbyists who worked this deal for Exelon? What about a list of all Exelon campaign contributions?
What does the press do in this state exactly?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 9:58 am:
=What does the press do in this state..?=
Well, they endorsed Rauner when he ran.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 10:05 am:
Here’s a good case of reporting the overall bill saga- http://midwestenergynews.com/2016/12/08/illinois-energy-bill-after-race-to-the-finish-what-does-it-all-mean/
- BEST Dave - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 10:13 am:
Only in Illinois can $125 million/year = $2, but $850 million/year = $0.25.
We’ve told everyone over and over that their math doesn’t work. What customers will see on their bills immediately starting in July is several dollars per month. That’s the reason folks like AARP, the AG and almost the entire business community has been raising hell over this.
- Jaded - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 10:35 am:
==Has a single news outlet detailed the names of the lobbyists who worked this deal for Exelon? What about a list of all Exelon campaign contributions?==
Who cares? Do you really think some certain lobbyist or campaign contributions made one bit of difference on this bill? How about all the lobbyists and campaign contributions working against the bill? This bill was negotiated and structured by the leaders and the Governor.
The simple fact is that just about every contract lobbyist worth their salt was on one side or the other on this bill.
- OkComputer - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 10:39 am:
“At the same time, Illinois’ ZES program is credit negative for Dynegy Inc (B2 stable) and NRG Energy, Inc. (Ba3 stable) because they own plants that burn coal or natural gas in the same market but are now at a competitive disadvantage without the subsidy.”
Does BEST not trade under its own symbol?
- MAMA - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:11 am:
“Only in Illinois can $125 million/year = $2, but $850 million/year = $0.25.”
This is called Illinois’s ‘new’ math or the GOP math.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:12 am:
Jaded is mostly correct. But a few were more crucial than most.
- MAMA - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:14 am:
When you factor in how much money the Exelon Generation Company gave to Rauner’s war chest, it works out to be .25 per IL citizen. /s
- Ratso Rizzo - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:16 am:
The Rauner Rate Hike #2018Election
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:21 am:
“The simple fact is that just about every contract lobbyist worth their salt was on one side or the other on this bill.” yea, and ComEd Exelon had 55 of them.
- Going nuclear - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:22 am:
@Anon221. Another interesting overview of the stakeholder process behind this energy bill can be found at http://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2016/12/8/13852856/illinois-energy-bill.
- A guy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:26 am:
==The Rauner Rate Hike #2018Election==
Saves two power plants and the good jobs in tough markets.
Which do you think resonates?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:28 am:
Rauner has run away from the Rauner Tax and won’t propose it.
Wonder why?
“Quinn Tax”
Oh, never mind.
- Liberty - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 11:48 am:
“customers will already see bill savings due to energy efficiency efforts,”
Yeah right…
- nadia - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 1:00 pm:
ComEd/Exelon had 55 lobbyists, Ameren probably 20, and Dynegy?
- nadia - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 1:41 pm:
Dynegy had . . . less than 5!
- BEST Dave - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 1:59 pm:
We had a whopping 8…but they were the BEST EIGHT!
- Senator Clay Davis - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
Search the Board of Elections site. The ComEd/Exelon companies and their employees gave $1,786,653.17 to Illinois politicians in just this last election cycle.
A $1.7m investment for a $2.5B bailout. Damn good ROI in the General Assembly.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
===The ComEd/Exelon companies and their employees gave $1,786,653.17 to Illinois politicians===
Now search for Rauner, Bruce.
- Jaded - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
I think a lot of people may be conveniently overlooking the fact that organized labor was a driving force to getting this bill done. I’ve heard “Rauner sold us out, Greedy Exelon screwed us again Com Ed screwed us again ,” but nothing like “man the AFL CIO really screwed us on this one!”
Of course, maybe I just missed it….
- foster brooks - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 7:36 pm:
why isn’t ComEd pushing 100 watt bulbs? The wouldn’t have to beg the GA for rate increases
- Anon2112 - Thursday, Dec 8, 16 @ 8:09 pm:
The fact that CUB has come out overwhelmingly supporting this bill should not be lost. What it really boils down to is what side of the bill your interests fell on. Nobody in this forum was for the consumer and it’s a joke to say otherwise.