SPRINGFIELD – With anticipated energy rate hikes looming for Illinoisans, State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is sponsoring legislation to help offset future energy price increases.
“We must act quickly to address Illinois’ ongoing energy issues and expected rate increases,” Sen. Tracy said. “These issues have long been a concern for residents of western Illinois, and I have introduced several pieces of legislation that could make a difference.”
According to Ameren Illinois, rates are expected to increase from an average of $37.62 to $45.98 per month for Ameren customers for the four-month summer season as a result of the most recent MISO grid auction. Meanwhile, ComEd customers are expected to see their average monthly bill go up from $108 per month to $118.60 per month due to the latest PJM grid auction.
Sen. Tracy’s legislative package has three bills.
Senate Bill 1234 would create the Illinois Regional Generation Reliability Task Force Act to study the effect of state laws, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, on energy prices as well as grid reliability.
Senate Bill 1235 would repeal the forced 2045 closure date for coal and natural gas power plants that was implemented under Gov. JB Pritzker’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of 2021. This legislation would also allow companies to build new gas peaker plants to help supplement the state’s energy needs without the fear of forced closures.
Senate Bill 1236 would eliminate red tape at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that has been preventing new power plants from coming online in a timely fashion by fast-tracking the state permitting process. A prime example of the current permitting process would be the Lincoln Land Energy Center in Pawnee, which started the permitting process with the Illinois EPA in 2017. The plant is finally expected to open in 2028 after delays in construction permit approval, despite its owner’s original plan to open the plant in 2022.
Senator Tracy says higher rates and reliable generation are ongoing concerns in the western Illinois region.
“Two years ago, we were facing the same concerns. Many families in downstate communities can’t afford to pay their increased energy bills and put food on the table,” Sen. Tracy said. “We must also do what we can to fill the demand of the power grid, so consumer prices go down naturally. Renewable energy projects are definitely an important part of a comprehensive solution, but we cannot rely on an ‘all-or-nothing’ scenario that could drive up rates because of insufficient power generation and subject our region to potential power brownouts and blackouts.”
Sen. Tracy says concerned constituents can visit her legislative Web site to learn ways they can help offset some of the expected electric rate hikes.
