House Republicans warn of summer energy cost crisis in Illinois
[May 15, 2025]
By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Some Illinois lawmakers are warning of an energy
cost crisis this summer.
State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, said there is an urgent need for
hearings into the recent Midcontinent Independent System Operator
capacity auction that returned a shocking $666 per Megawatt-day price
across all zones in the summer. That same price just one year ago was
$30. He said Illinois' energy policies are to blame for the recent huge
spikes in energy costs for Illinois utility customers.
“These new price spikes come on the heels of two summers of price spikes
from previous MISO auctions, as customers are seeing their electricity
bills double and triple in some areas of the state,” said Severin.
State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said the Climate and Equitable
Jobs Act’s CO2 emissions caps are unrealistic.
“The consequences are piling up,” said Halbrook. “We are seeing
skyrocketing energy costs, unreliable service and an increasing
dependence on imported electricity.”
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was passed by the General Assembly
and signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sep. 15, 2021.
Recently, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
announced 88 awards totaling $57 million through the Community Solar
Energy Sovereignty Grant Program, Equitable Energy Future Grant Program,
and Energy Transition Community/Zion Grant Program, initiatives under
CEJA.
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Illinois state Reps. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, C.D. Davidsmeyer,
R-Murrayville, and Dave Severin, R-Benton, during a news conference
in Springfield - Greg Bishop | The Center Square
“These grants will help us build upon the progress that has already
been made through CEJA while bolstering a diverse clean energy
workforce,” said Senate President Don Harmon, D–Oak Park.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, said due to misguided
public policy like CEJA, as well as market factors, Illinois’ power
generation capacity has taken a significant hit.
“We’re seeing energy generation go down at the same time technology
and other investments need to be made to bring businesses here and
the reliable and cheap energy we use to have a decade or more ago
was our only competitive advantage with our neighbors, and we’re
pushing that away by these poor political policies,” said
Davidsmeyer.
House Republicans have introduced several measures, including House
Bill 4050, to roll back CEJA provisions they said will keep
Illinoisans working. One measure repeals a provision defining "clean
energy."
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