Sen. Brady: Leadership needed to resolve electric rate hike issue         

[JAN. 18, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, says legislative leaders must make electric rates a top priority in the new legislative session to help Illinois consumers facing higher utility bills.

"I am extremely disappointed that a lack of leadership by the Democratic House speaker and the Democratic Senate president failed to reach a workable compromise on electric rate hikes," Brady said. "My hope is that the rate increases in the ComEd and Ameren utility territories will be only short-term in duration and that a reasonable solution will be presented to the new 95th General Assembly, sooner rather than later."

The 44th District senator says a long-term solution would provide low-cost electricity to everyone in Illinois without bankrupting the utility companies.

"This solution is important because it will retain jobs in Illinois, while reducing the financial burden to families, senior citizens and businesses resulting from the rate increases," he said. "I will work with my colleagues toward that important goal."

Brady says he voted against legislation addressing utility rates in November because the specific plan was a no-win situation for utilities and consumers.

House Bill 2197 would have increased downstate electric rates by 14 percent each year for the next three years, but it did not fully address the fiscal concerns of Ameren officials, who say their company faced severe consequences if it was approved -- including layoffs and inability to provide sufficient energy for consumers.

Consumer groups such as the Citizens Utility Board and AARP also opposed the legislation.

[News release from Sen. Bill Brady]