 Ameren Illinois and Commonwealth Edison Co. have reworked their
Smart Grid proposal, a nearly half-billion-dollar upgrade that would
replace aging power lines and install smart meters for customers.
Gone are the automatic rate increases for both companies. Gov. Pat
Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan objected to what
they called guaranteed profits for Ameren and ComEd. Instead, the
utilities would have to go through the Illinois Commerce Commission
to get a rate increase.
"We heard (people) when they raised concerns when the bill
created automatic rate increases," said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd's
president and chief operating officer. "No rate will be set until
after a full 8 1/2-month ICC review."
Ameren and ComEd customers will pay about $3 more per month for
the Smart Grid upgrades. Pramaggiore said ComEd customers would see
a flat $36 per year increase. Ameren customers would see their bills
rise quite a bit more. The monthly $3.40 charge would double each
year, so that at the end of the 10-year Smart Grid program, Ameren
customers would be paying $34 a month more.
But Craig Nelson, Ameren's senior vice president of regulatory
affairs, said some customers would save that much if they make the
switch to a smart meter, which allows customers to manage their
electricity use, using power at night or early in the morning, when
it costs less than during the middle of the day.
"Customers will be paying less for electricity, because there
will be less electricity flowing through the grid, and it'll still
meet their energy needs," said Nelson.
State Rep. Kevin McCarthy, D-Orland Park, has been shepherding
Smart Grid through the Statehouse and said he hopes the new
requirements for Ameren and ComEd will help win over skeptics.
"We've also mandated that utilities must offer a peak-time rebate
program to the customers who receive a smart meter," said McCarthy.
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McCarthy said he's been speaking with the governor's office, but
he's less involved with the attorney general's office.
The attorney general has said she could not support any plan that
guaranteed profits for the state's largest utilities while costing
consumers more.
Quad Cities state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said he's not
worried about Madigan's opposition.
"But here the attorney general, who doesn't even have a vote on
this body, is determining how I should vote or what I should do?
No," said Jacobs. "If you want to vote in this General Assembly, run
for the office."
Consumer watchdogs, like the Citizens Utility Board's president,
Dave Kolata, said the idea of a Smart Grid can save homeowners
money, but he doesn't know if the Illinois proposal will save anyone
money.
McCarthy said he hopes to see a vote on his plan in the next few
days. Lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up the spring legislative
session Tuesday.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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