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Senator Sally Turner files
legislation to provide relief from soaring utility bills for
middle-class Illinoisans
[September 04, 2025]
Springfield, IL— In response to
the recent spike in electricity rates within the MISO and PJM power
grids, State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) has filed legislation
to provide much-needed relief for Illinois families struggling with
rising utility bills.
“Families across Illinois are already feeling squeezed by higher
costs of living, and now they are being hit with unprecedented
summer rate hikes on their electric bills,” said Senator Sally
Turner. “It is unacceptable that working and middle-class households
are left with virtually no option for relief while facing bills that
can reach hundreds of dollars more each month.”
Senate Bill 2687, also known as the Home Utility Relief Act, creates
a Home Utility Rebate Program through the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The program would provide
rebates to households with incomes between 100% and 500% of the
federal poverty guidelines. These are families who often earn too
much to qualify for traditional low-income assistance programs but
who are still burdened by rapidly rising energy costs.
The measure establishes a $500 million Home Utility Rebate Relief
Fund to be used in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. After rebates are
issued to qualifying households, any remaining funds may also be
made available to certain first-time small business owners.
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“While low-income
families already have programs to help them weather the storm of
high utility costs, the lower middle class gets left behind far
too often,” continued Senator Sally Turner. “This legislation is
about fairness and making sure families who don’t qualify for
these types of programs still have a lifeline when energy prices
spiral out of control.”
Under the bill, DCEO will oversee and implement the program,
setting rules and qualifications to ensure that rebates are
distributed quickly and efficiently. The agency is required to
adopt emergency rules to expedite the program’s launch.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Senior Communications Strategist
Communications and Public Affairs
Illinois Senate Republican Staff]
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