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* Attorney General Lisa Madigan is featured in a robocall opposing ComEd’s controversial bill. Scripts..
–LIVE ANSWER SCRIPT
LISA: Hi, this is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
BOB: and this is AARP Illinois State Director Bob Gallo.
LISA: Right now, ComEd, Ameren, and other Illinois utility companies are trying to pass legislation that will raise your electric and natural gas bills automatically every year – and guarantee higher profits for themselves.
BOB: We’re asking you to take action. Press 1 on your phone right now to tell your legislator “No Way!” to automatic utility rate increases. Join AARP and Attorney General Lisa Madigan to stop this legislation.LISA: Press 1 on your phone right now and tell your legislator NO, you won’t foot the bill to guarantee profits for ComEd, Ameren or any other Illinois utility.
BOB: For more information, call AARP Illinois at 1-866-448-3613.
–ANSWERING MACHINE SCRIPT
LISA: Hi, this is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
BOB: and this is AARP Illinois State Director Bob Gallo. We’re sorry we missed you.
Lisa: Right now, ComEd, Ameren, and other Illinois utility companies are trying to pass legislation that will raise your electric and natural gas bills automatically every year – and guarantee higher profits for themselves.
BOB: We’re asking you to take action. Join AARP and Attorney General Lisa Madigan to stop this legislation.LISA: Call 1-800-719-3020 and tell your legislator NO, you won’t foot the bill to guarantee profits for ComEd, Ameren or any other Illinois utility.
BOB: Call 1-800-719-3020 and tell you legislator “No Way” to automatic utility rate increases.
* Even so, ComEd’s bill is poised to fly through the General Assembly, but the ICC Chairman is also quite unhappy…
In a rare political move, the chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission came out Friday against legislation being pushed by Commonwealth Edison that would reduce the regulatory body’s role.
The company has said a faster process for determining electricity rate hikes that locks in its profit margins and sets rates according to a formula would make it easier to plan and pay for modern infrastructure, including smart grid, and would lead to fewer outages.
“This bill, at its core, is not about smart grid,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott, who oversees the regulatory body that reviews and approves utility rate increases that show up on consumers bills.
“While smart grid is in there, this bill is really about two things: 1) being able to recover all the utility’s costs through a new system with far less stringent review; and 2) getting all those costs back at a more favorable rate of return that’s locked in by the General Assembly instead of the current method that’s designed to balance the company’s interest with the ratepayers’ interest and to account for market forces.”
* Environmentalists are also still opposed…
The latest version of the bill, released yesterday, dropped the idea of automatic rate hikes in advance of any regulatory review and added provisions to draw support from environmental groups and other interests.
“The bill’s becoming something of a Christmas tree,” said Howard Learner, president and executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, which opposes the bill. “Clearly at this point ComEd doesn’t have the votes, but that could change in two minutes,” he said about an hour before the bill cleared the committee.
* But ComEd says low current wholesale prices will mitigate its most recent rate hike…
Commonwealth Edison says a rate increase authorized by the Illinois Commerce Commission will be offset by a drop in the wholesale price of electricity.
According to ComEd, residential consumers should see an average $1.30 drop in their monthly bill.
The ICC on Tuesday ruled ComEd can raise its electric rates by $156 million. ComEd originally requested an increase of nearly $400 million. Much of that would have gone to new technology.
posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 10:09 am
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My favorite moment of the House hearing yesterday on ComEd’s bill came when Holbrook announced that the proponents (ComEd and Ameren) had completed their testimony and he invited the opponents up to testify.
Half the committee members promptly stood up, voted aye, and walked out of the room. They just couldn’t be bothered with hearing why anybody might oppose the utilities’ bill. Never mind that the list of opponents - attorney general, governor, ICC, CUB, AARP, etc. - was so long that it took several minutes for Holbrook just to read it into the record.
Some have called the House Public Utilities Committee a wholly owned subsidiary of the utilities and, as was clear yesterday, that’s no exaggeration. Let’s see whether the remaining members of the GA are similarly disinclined to oppose whatever the utilities happen to want.
Comment by Coach Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 11:13 am
Thanks, Coach, for reminding us that we get what we pay for. Democracy at it’s finest, Springfield chapter.
Comment by DuPage Dave Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 11:59 am
That’s pretty broad-based opposition, yet the utilities rocked the committee. They can still bring the fastball under the dome.
Comment by wordslinger Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 12:08 pm
You have to wonder after seeing ComEd’s huge media and lobbying campaign - how much money they will be making from this bill.
SB 1652 is to benefit consumers? I don’t think so.
There were even Wall Street stock analysts roaming the Capitol yestersay closely watching this bill.
Comment by SportShoz Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 1:01 pm
How will ComEd get around the notes that Nekritz filed on the bill. Agency staff most likely won’t be available to complete these notes until Tuesday. I suppose they’ll be completed early Tues and then the bill moves Tues afternoon?
Comment by Jack Horner Saturday, May 28, 11 @ 2:12 pm
Why does the general assembly cave everytime they come calling ($)? It reminds of the last time a couple of years ago when they wanted something similar. What a joke.
Comment by Palatine Sunday, May 29, 11 @ 12:48 am
CUB and Lisa Madigan, together with AARP and the environmentalists really took it on this one. Apparently, powerless, pardon the pun. Where was the ICC Chairman before? NOW he speaks out? He’s an old House guy. Couldn’t he have twisted some arms? Too little, too late…he’s got his cushy new job….and the peasants can pay and pay. I like to have his pension….mine will be gone by the time these clowns are out of Session.
Comment by Sick Of It All Monday, May 30, 11 @ 12:54 am