 Attorney General Lisa Madigan released a statement this week, saying
her office "walked away" from negotiations with Ameren Illinois and
Commonwealth Edison LLC over legislation to upgrade and modernize
Illinois' electric grid.
Ameren and ComEd want permission from lawmakers to bypass the
Illinois Commerce Commission and add the costs of the upgrades to
customers' bills. The commission has had to rule on rate increases
in the past.
The Smart Grid proposal, the utilities say, would balance the new
charges with new equipment and technology that would eventually save
consumers money.
But the attorney general's statement said the proposal would shift
the risk to customers and guarantee Ameren and ComEd double-digit
profits.
"Attorney General Madigan cannot support a proposal that short
circuits the regulatory process and doesn't include strong
protections for consumers," the statement read.
ComEd customer Colleen Fox, of Stockton, said she is always a little
skeptical of promises made to "consumers," and not just by ComEd.
"I always want more information, so I don't always believe
everything that I'm told, especially by utilities," said Fox.
But that doesn't mean she's opposed to the plan, which would have
ComEd customers pay an extra $36 a year.
"It's like your house. You don't wait for the small problems to get
out of hand," said Fox. "If you wait too long, then it could cost
too much."
State Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, may have to switch to that
sales pitch. McCarthy has been trying to push the Smart Grid
proposal through the legislature all year.
"These investments are going to have to be made," McCarthy said.
"And they may cost more if the utilities have to improve the system
as it breaks down."
Both ComEd and Ameren want to replace their aging power grid,
including modernizing substations and power lines, and installing
new smart meters for more accurate power bills.
"ComEd continues to engage in dialogue around a forward-looking
energy policy for the state of Illinois. As a lead proponent of
House Bill 14, ComEd has outlined the substantive benefits to
Illinois consumers contained in the bill in the form of improved
reliability, improved customer service, jobs, business expansion and
future economic development," ComEd spokeswoman Alicia Zatkowski
said in a statement.
Calls to Ameren Illinois for comment were not returned.
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McCarthy hinted that the attorney general may carry more weight than
Quinn, who came out against the legislation earlier this week.
"Lawmakers are going to have to weigh the pluses and the minuses,"
McCarthy said. "(The attorney general's opposition) is certainly one
of the minuses."
Ameren customer Lisa Becherer, of Smithton, located south of
Belleville, said she still remembers the last time her power bill
increased, and she's in no hurry to see it rise again.
"I wait and see with everything that Ameren says," Becherer said. "I
do not believe them right away, ever."
Becherer said she understands that Ameren might need to upgrade or
improve its system, but she wanted to know more before she'd sign on
to pay more.
McCarthy said he still hopes to see a vote on Smart Grid, but it is
not a front-burner issue now. He said he expects to wait a week or
so before moving ahead with a revised Smart Grid proposal.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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