Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Let’s stick to the FACTS about consumer protections under HB14, the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act

Monday, Apr 11, 2011 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Myth: HB14 locks in automatic rate increases without ICC review.

Fact: The ICC will set rates after an annual review and audit of costs. If utilities can’t justify costs, they’ll have to issue refunds to consumers, with interest. There’s nothing “automatic” about that.

Myth: HB14 guts the ICC’s oversight authority and the ability of groups representing consumers to challenge rates.

Fact: HB14 retains the rights that the ICC and interveners have today to challenge utility rates and the burden of proof would still be on utilities to justify rates. And this scrutiny would be more frequent with the annual reviews required by HB14.

Myth: The ICC would have only 45 days to consider a new rate filed by a utility.

Fact: Not true. Under HB14, if the ICC decides to hold hearings, they’d last up to 8 1/2 months. The 45-day period is just the period for the ICC to decide whether to hold hearings to investigate the annual rate filing. This is no different from today’s law.

To learn more about HB14 visit www.smartenergyIL.com

Comments Off

HB 14 – “The Wrong Bill, at the Worst Time”

Tuesday, Apr 5, 2011 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

While ComEd is running a campaign to pass HB 14 called “Smart Energy Illinois”…

Here’s what ComEd’s parent company Exelon’s CEO John Rowe had to say about “smart” energy investments:

“Smart grid we are reluctant to embrace because it costs too much and we’re not sure what good it will do. We have looked at most of the elements of smart grid for 20 years and we have never been able to come up with estimates that make it pay.”

“The real issue is are we doing the customers more good by putting money into more advanced electronics or would we do them more good by putting the same money into replacing more old cable? To me that’s an unknown answer. If I had to choose, I’d bet on the cable.”

See for yourself at http://www.eenews.net/tv/transcript/1293

ComEd says HB14 is about smart energy investing, but AARP knows that the bill is really just a move to allow Illinois utilities to automatically raise electric and natural gas rates every year and eliminate much of the oversight currently provided by the Illinois Commerce Commission. AARP is urging lawmakers to reject HB 14

Comments Off

WOULD YOU BUY THE HOUSE BEFORE YOU GOT THE BANK LOAN?

Tuesday, Apr 5, 2011 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Of course not. But that’s the scenario Illinois’ outdated regulatory system creates for utilities looking to modernize the state’s electric grid to provide even more reliable service and give consumers new tools to save money on energy costs.

Illinois’ regulatory system is about yesterday.
It was developed for a bygone era when utilities could count on free-flowing capital and the ability to spread fixed costs over an always-growing customer base.

It needs to be about tomorrow.
A modern energy infrastructure requires multi-year investment. But utilities don’t know if they can recover their investments, and even if they do recover it isn’t until years after they’re made. This uncertain, unpredictable environment stifles innovation and the economic growth that would be created by a modern grid.

House Bill 14 proposes a better system.
It combines the transparency and accountability of current regulation with specific performance metrics to ensure customer benefits are being realized. While actually increasing scrutiny of utility costs through annual reviews, it gives utilities greater incentive to make the investments necessary to move Illinois forward.

Today’s regulatory uncertainty is holding back tomorrow.

To learn more, visit SmartEnergyIL.com

Comments Off

« NEWER POSTS