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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) took bold and necessary leadership by voting unanimously to approve a competitive bidding system as the means by which electric utilities should purchase power. Thanks to the ICC, our state is on the right path.

As the debate surrounding Illinois’ electric industry has grown increasingly heated, the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) has endorsed a clear message — we need a competitive market for electricity where complicated policy decisions are made by the experts at the ICC. The ICC’s approval of the competitive bidding process confirmed the legitimacy of our message.

Reliable electricity, the cornerstone of a strong economy, is crucial to UNO. As one of Chicago’s largest community-based Latino organizations, UNO has successfully assisted low-income minorities in areas of education, citizenship and homeownership. To continue our mission of empowering Illinois Latinos and ensuring job opportunities for the newly immigrated, UNO greatly depends on a reliable infrastructure for electrical power.

Just as the Latino community cannot afford to put job growth and a healthy economy at risk, Illinois cannot afford to threaten its electric industry. The ICC has ruled in favor of a competitive marketplace for electricity; let’s not turn back on their well-informed decision.

Juan Rangel is CEO of UNO, the United Neighborhood Organization. He also serves as an Advisory Committee member of Consumers Organized for Reliable Electricity, a coalition of business, labor, community and energy groups.