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Ameren IL CEO Scot Cissel just offered $35 million in rate relief and conservation programs. The offer came during testimony at the House’s Committee of the Whole meeting today.
But Speaker Madigan’s office immediately rejected the plan as insufficient.
More in tomorrow’s Capitol Fax.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 7:23 pm
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It is insufficient because it’s not the type of program that is needed. Ameren deserves its increases; it went over 10 years without one, and while that freeze was probably unfair, they agreed to it. The current increases are unfair to consumers.
What is needed is a program that allows producers to sell ALL of its production to its customers. as it is now, Ameren can only sell 1/3 of its power to its own customers. It must sell 2/3 to other providers; therefore, it must buy the rest of its needs from other producers. That means they become a “middle man” and the power costs the customer more.
Second, the rate increases need to be rolled back to an acceptable level–say 10% for all customers over what they paid last year–and then add moderate increases for the next several years.
Third, and this is a long-term item, Ameren needs the authority to construct more nuclear power plants in Illinois, especially in the central and southern regions.
Lastly, power companies must be allowed to run as monopolies, and the general assembly needs to regulate them as monopolies. The state tried to make a utility into a competetive enterprise. It didn’t work, and it never will in regard to utilities. Monopolize and regulate.
The general assembly needs to stand up to Ameren (and to a lesser extent ComEd) and come up with a compromise that treats Ameren fairly and treats consumers fairly, as well.
Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 7:40 pm
Who’s running the show in the House today? Mopes and bureaucrats for six hours while we wait for Ameren’s head cheese to face the firing squad?
They’ve missed the six o’clock news with anything meaningful and risk getting buried beneath elections results in many places at 10.
C’mon, if you’re going to have a dog and pony show put the friggin’ dogs and ponies on stage for the crowd to see.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 7:53 pm
If you want to put on a dog-and-pony show, you do it by noon, so it can go out to all news outlets. Looks like they wanted to hide this.
Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 8:29 pm
WOW! I have never agreed more w/ Speaker Madigan then I have today. Keep playin hard ball!
Comment by Scoot Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 8:31 pm
Fan,
True. Calling this a dog and pony show is an insult to canines and equine performers alike.
But why would Madigan bury this? It’s as if Emil Jones scheduled this committee of the whole. Allegedly Madigan cares deeply about this topic and is peeved at the power companies. But by his management of this hearing he’s going to allow them to get off easy in the court of public opinion tonight and tomorrow when he really could have set them up for some truly embarrassing coverage.
Just can’t figure out why.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 8:52 pm
I’m listening to Rep. Ron Stephens tell Ameren they should apologize for their actions. He voted “present” on the rate freeze. Twice. Oh well.
Comment by freddbyrd Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 9:42 pm
Freddbyrd,
As if anyone expected more from Helen of Troy.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:20 pm
Pat Quinn at nearly 11 p.m. telling me what the lt. gov cares about. Please, kill me now.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:46 pm
Amen, anon.
Comment by Pingu Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:53 pm
You’re really still paying attentiont to this?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 10:57 pm
OMG, a Frank Clark slide show with the midnight hour fastly approaching.
I knew I shouldn’t have skipped church last weekend. So this is what the 7th concentric circle is like. Worse than expected.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:06 pm
I’m sticking with this until I drink the last of my Old Milwaukee Light.
Comment by freddbyrd Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:13 pm
Now that should be the official softdrink of Illinois.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:32 pm
Representative Flowers apparently was not a math major.
Comment by Pingu Tuesday, Feb 27, 07 @ 11:56 pm
“I beg to difference.” No orator, she.
Comment by Pingu Wednesday, Feb 28, 07 @ 12:05 am
It’s 12:15 a.m. and Mary Flowers is now quoting Wikipedia.
That’s it. Game over.
Good night.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Feb 28, 07 @ 12:14 am
Okay, this is high comedy. Now Flowers is reading a wikipedia entry and calling it a “report” on the california energy crisis. I actually feel bad for Frank Clark.
Comment by Pingu Wednesday, Feb 28, 07 @ 12:15 am
Ameren’s profits in 2005 were $606 million, which represents an increase of 14.3% from 2004. The $35 million that they have offered represents a mere 6% of their profits from two years ago.
Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Feb 28, 07 @ 8:32 am