SPRINGFIELD  –  Not even three years after a one billion dollar settlement with Ameren and ComEd and the promise of “rate relief,” lawmakers in Springfield are once again getting angry calls about people’s power bills.

Ameren, downstate Illinois’ largest utility, has asked for a 130-million dollar rate increase.  The Illinois Commerce Commission has suggested 56-million.  Southern Illinois Democrat John Bradley is suggesting nothing.

30910Bradley2          :15          …millions of dollars from them.”

Central Illinois Republican Dan Rutherford says the ICC hasn’t decided anything yet, so he wants to wait for that decision before he decides whether to get angry or not.

30910Rutherford1       :15       …rate increase or not.”

An Ameren spokesman says the company can only make money through deliver charges, and those charges have to rise from time to time.  AARP in Illinois is mobilizing to fight the rake hike.  A decision isn’t expected for a few weeks.