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*** UPDATE - 10:49 am *** Gov. Pat Quinn is speaking now about his veto of the ComEd bill. Click here to watch the feed. Blackberry users should click here. Others can just kick back and watch the live blog…
…Adding… The presser is over. I’ll post stories, Tweets, etc. to the live-blog thingy as they come in…
* The ComEd bill is the only piece of legislation currently sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting action…
SB1652 UTILITIES - DELIVERY SERVICES
08/29/2011 Senate Sent to the Governor
Mike Jacobs
(Kevin A. McCarthy)
* So, it’s pretty obvious what this press conference will be about tomorrow…
GOVERNOR’S PUBLIC SCHEDULE
**Monday, September 12, 2011**CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn will take legislative action.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: James R. Thompson Center
15th Floor - Blue Room
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, 60601
* Meanwhile, one aspect of Gov. Quinn’s energy policy is being undermined by a major gas utility…
Peoples Gas is refusing to buy synthetic gas from a pair of politically favored plants on the drawing board for Chicago and Downstate Illinois, jeopardizing the multibillion-dollar projects.
Crain’s has learned the Chicago gas utility and its corporate sibling, North Shore Gas, told state officials Friday they won’t sign long-term purchase contracts with the coal-to-gas plants. State legislation enacted this summer cleared the way for the plants and sought to pressure large natural gas utilities into buying the facilities’ output.
Chicago and Downstate lawmakers, along with coal companies and labor unions, pushed for the plants, which are expected to buy large quantities of Illinois coal and employ hundreds of union workers.
But Peoples and others opposed the legislation on the grounds that gas from the plants would be too expensive, driving up household heating bills.
* Recent related news…
* ComEd eyeing concessions to stave off likely Quinn veto: Ideas on the table include having the utility set up a $50 million fund to help elderly and poor consumers pay their electricity bills, devote $150 million to better insulate the utility’s power grid from weather-related outages and cap ComEd’s annual profits to less than 10 percent during the next three years.
* ComEd officials ‘promise to do better in the future’
* Editorial: ComEd bill needs more consumer protections
* Illinois Town Wants More Precise Smart Energy Language
* ComEd takes more heat, lays out improvement plan at Glenview meeting
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:47 am
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The amazing OneKarnack will offer the following prediction
During his comments governor Quinn will mention, Lincoln, people, the cuts to the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Human Rights Commission, Working People, the legislature and will start 20 minutes late.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 7:03 am
Veto is out. Press release at:
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=9719
Comment by DJ EZ Rock Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:47 am
Don’t worry, Kevin. You’ll probably still get your great job.
Comment by Bill Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 10:58 am
It’s a great country: even the most embattled governor can smack down a state’s most powerful entity with the stroke of a pen.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:10 am
Here’s the thing I don’t understand about this bill. What does “Smart Grid” have to do with the change in the way utility rates are regulated by the ICC? Why can’t ComEd go ahead and build Smart Grid without changing the rate regulation process that has been in place for 140 years in Illinois? They built and financed a dozen big fat expensive nuclear power plants under the existing process. Why now is it impossible to do without a guaranteed rate of return and an emasculation of rate review by the ICC?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:13 am
Anonymous: because they don’t want to…and when ComEd sits in the corner and pouts when they don’t get their way, they call on the pols that that they gave campaign cash to and scream jump!
I back Quinn 100% on this veto. I am not pleased with some of his other actions of late, but he is right about this bill being all about ComEd’s hunger for continued lucrative bottom line at the expense of their ratepayers.
Let’s see if Harmon can walk the very thin line here and place consumer concerns at the forefront of whatver trailer bill he can come up with.
I truly doubt he will eventually side with the public interest. Doesn’t his wife work for Sidley, who represents Com Ed? Isn’t this a
conflict of interest for him?
Comment by Franny1 Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:38 am
Franny1, before casting aspersions, perhaps you should consider that Sidley is a pretty darned big law firm with lots of clients.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:40 am
The smart grid is overhyped. It is less about helping with outages than it is bringing on time and load based pricing structures.
However, now is the time to extort what you can from the utility, The previous extortion deals really helped with reducing the number of employees at Com Ed and lowered the wages of those left. Jobs, jobs, jobs.
I applaud the gas utilities for not locking in contracts to purchase high cost natural gas from the coal to gas plants. There is a glut of natural gas out there and they should be aggressive in getting the lowest price for their commodity that is practical.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:47 am
I find it interesting that Quinn says the people cannot afford the $2.3 bill this will cost, guess he didn’t mind socking it to the taxpayers with his $6 bill income tax increase!
Comment by Red Cup Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 11:55 am
Is Mayor Emanuel grateful for the veto? If so, where is the gratitude?
Comment by Ward 51 Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:08 pm
More job killing - oh my
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:21 pm
Has Cullerton, Harmon, et al. ever explained why they feel the bill will help their constituents and not just ComEd? Searching, all I find is ComEd press releases and soundbites and nothing from the bill sponsors themselves.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:32 pm
Anony, you mean Sen. Mike Jacobs, the sponsor, has not fully explained the benefits of the SmartGrid?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:36 pm
Good veto. Electric rates is def one area where GOV does have credibility. Tough override vote.
Comment by Lincoln's Penny Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:46 pm
The comment about Harmon’s wife is uncalled for. Both of them have impeciable integrity. If you’re mad about a trailer being worked on, direct your ire at Cullerton.
Comment by National League Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:52 pm
Really, as a founder of CUB, Quinn had no choice on this if he wanted to retain his credibility as a consumer advocate. With all the heat he has taken on the budget and with the unions, he just had to veto this bill, …or possibly explode.
Everyone has always been able to tell that Smart Grid was just a cover for the regulatory rollback Com Ed wanted. The two really don’t require that much linkage for Smart Grid to begin a roll-out. I think Com Ed was a little too cynical about itself to really flog the smart grid idea enough that it would stick with voters. They just figured why worry when they can afford allt hat media and press coverage and use all their lobby money directly on the legislature.
Today is a day where I appreciate our system of checks and balances. Com Ed bought most of the system, but the governor, at least for the moment, has done the right thing anyway and stopped the regulatory rollback.
Comment by Gregor Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 12:53 pm
I applaud the Springfield in making People’s Gas be the fall guy for the new coal-to-gas plants.
“We’re on your side, unions! It’s those crumb bums at People’s Gas that aren’t playing ball!”
This is some good Illinois political theater here, people.
Comment by Leroy Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 1:13 pm
Been waiting to hear what Quinn’s decision would be for the last couple months.
I think a smart grid is a great idea. And I think Anne Pramaggiore will get it done.
I look forward to a more thorough review of the legislation’s goals and direct ties of funds to smart meters, solar thermal and solar PV installations, EV readiness, and making use of wind power more efficiently.
Comment by JBilla Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 1:29 pm
Who knew you can’t just put “Smart” in front of something and get Illinois lawmakers to pass it?
Oh that’s right both chambers did pass it.
Quinn’s smarter than he lets on sometimes. Good for him.
Comment by just sayin' Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 3:31 pm
I guess that Com Ed thought they could push insane deregulation with a Smart Grid to a governor that is not so smart and doesn’t mind hitting up Illinois citizens for more money through taxes and fees. They were wrong. Trying to fool us by saying higher rates before improvements are necessary, while a failed system is already costing so much doesn’t work either. I’m very disappointed with the legislators that went along with this rip-off.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 4:40 pm
“The Infrastructure Modernization Act will pave the way for an upgraded energy infrastructure that will ensure better reliability and while creating 2,139 more jobs within Illinois,” stated Senator Jacobs, Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. “The proposed smart grid is an automated power system that monitors and controls grid activities, ensuring a two-way flow of power and information between utility companies and consumers.”
“The energy infrastructure in Illinois is decades old, however, our need for electricity grows every day,” stated Jacobs. “These Smart Grid improvements will allow us to meet these demands by implementing modern technologies and upgraded equipment.”
Comment by MidGround Monday, Sep 12, 11 @ 5:21 pm